Nigeria’s minister of health, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu, on Monday, commissioned a multimillion ultra modern diagnostic centre built by the Abia State Government.
Speaking at the event, the Abia state Governor, Chief Theodore Orji, described himself as a man who keeps to his promises, stressing “my yes is my yes, and my no is my no”.
The governor disclosed that a whopping sum of over N41 billion is spent annually by Nigerians who go for medical treatment in India.
Orji, who said the statistics was from Indian High Commission office, noted that the amount was spent by about 18, 000 Nigerians who troop to India annually in search of medical treatment.
He explained that it was in recognition of the expertise of Indians in the field of medicine that his state went into partnership with an Indian firm, Mecure to establish the diagnostic centres, one in Umuahia and one in Aba.
He said the centre would save Nigeria the big capital flight as according to him, “we have bought the Indians and the equipments here”.
Governor announced that the Centre has seven states of the arts machines.
According to him, “four of the machines are for renal diseases, one is for HIV/AIDS related diseases, and one is for hypostasis while the remaining one will serve as a standby machine”.
He said that the state was also partnering with the Indian firm for the establishment of an eye specialist hospital which he said would be ready in three month’s time.
“We will drastically reduce the number of people going to India for medical treatment and also save the huge amount of money being spent. We are also partnering with them in eye treatment. We have entered an understanding with them; we have made some money available to them.
“If there is any sector we have made tremendous achievement it is in the health sector. We have nine 100-bed hospitals going on in state now.
“I have come to serve you; I have come not to deceive you. If I am a deceiver, you will know. I am not a deceiver. My yes is my yes, my no is my no”, Orji said.
He also announced that the state would soon commence Health Insurance Scheme for its workers.
In his speech before commissioning the Centre, the health minister commended the Governor for his vision in the health sector and urged the people to make maximum use of the centre, saying that “Abia is now putting the priorities right”.
He also urged the governor to commence the health insurance scheme as he promised, noting that some health challenges were very expensive to treat.
“If you want to enjoy the services, health insurance is the answer”, he said, urging government to subsidize some special health problems.
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