Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN) has frowned on the rationale behind flying Nigerian presidents abroad for medical attention. He said the practice diminishes Nigeria’s image.
The governor, who spoke while inaugurating the 60-bed ultra-modern Cardiac and Renal Centre at the General Hospital, Gbagada, noted that flying the late former President, Musa Yar’ Adua to Saudi Arabia when he became critically ill to manage his kidney ailment, remains the low point in Nigeria’s history.
He said: “We could have built one with all the petrol dollars. The Federal Government does not understand that it diminishes our image every time the head of government travels abroad for medical care,” he said, adding, he is not suggesting that all specialist hospitals be built in Nigeria.
According to him, in many countries the best hospitals were military where the President got treatment, adding that Nigeria’s military hospitals used to be like that.
“What is the ailment that a Nigerian president goes to treat abroad that a Nigerian hospital built by him cannot handle?” he queried.
Explaining the rationale for the centre, the governor said the government sponsored very sick Nigerians abroad in 2008 and 2014 with tax payer’s money.
“There were 42 cardiac cases and 28 renal cases that benefited from the gesture of compassion from the Ministry of Health.
No comments:
Post a Comment