Nigeria will ultimately become the destination for medical tourism as its healthcare system will turn out to be a centre of medical hub
This will become a reality with a major investment deal coming to the country, through the establishment of the Africa Medical Centre for Excellence (AMCE).
Chairman/CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, stated these while receiving the CEO, AMCE, Mr. Brian Deaver, and his team who paid her a courtesy call in her office, today.
The NIDCOM boss noted that a number of Nigerian professionals in the healthcare industry were beginning to invest in the sector in the country.
She added that, with the volume of medical facilities planned for the centre, it will go a long way to reduce brain drain of medical professionals and be a game-changer in medical tourism.
These were contained in a press release e-signed by Head of Media, Public Relations and Protocols Unit, NiDCOM, Abdur-Rahman Balogun.
Dabiri-Erewa said having NiDCOM on board as a partner will help attract Nigerian medical personnel
working in the Diaspora to tap into their expertise and capacity-building.
“With the assemblage of this wonderful team, I am optimistic that the project is already a huge success. I therefore assure you of our support and partnership in this regard,” she said.
Dabiri-Erewa said, if the vision and mission of the project is fully implemented as conceived, it will not only revamp the current situation of Nigeria’s health sector but also change Nigeria to a centre of destination for medical tourism.
She, however, advised that there should be provision for the treatment of the less privileged in the society so that the facilities will be for all categories of humanity.
Hon. Dabiri-Erewa seized the opportunity to congratulate the Chief Medical Officer of AMCE, Dr. Aisha Umar, on her latest appointment. She described her as one of the best in the health sector.
The NiDCOM Boss gave the assurance of the commission’s readiness to work with AMCE group. She said a technical vommittee will be created to that effect.
Earlier, the CEO of AMCE, Mr Brian Deaver, said the project is a world-class medical service hub aimed at providing efficient health care delivery in Nigeria.
He noted that it will especially deal in treatment of cancer and cardiovascular-related health issues.
Deaver said the establishment of the centre in Nigeria will reverse the flow of external medical tourism, estimated at Six Billion Dollars annually.
With the on-going project in Nigeria, he said, over 1000 Nigerian medical and non-medical staff will be recruited.
He added that the centre will be one of the many world-class cancer treatment and diagnosis centres to be built in Nigeria with over $700 million funding support from Afrexim Bank.
Also speaking, Dr. Aisha Umar said the group has been enthusiastic in partnering Africa in healthcare delivery with the pilot business in Abuja, in the next two years as well as providing excellent training for medical personnel.
