By Hassan Haruna Ginsau
President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan yesterday called on the private sector within and outside Nigeria to join the federal Government’s efforts in improving the country’s health sector.
Jonathan stated this during his address at the official commissioning of the Nigeria -Turkish Nizamiye Hospital, at the Life Camp, Abuja.
In his words: “I would like to use this opportunity to again invite the Private Sector within and outside Nigeria, to join our collective efforts to take healthcare delivery in our country to the next level, by utilising the viable and varied investment opportunities which nowabound in our country.”
The President said the project demonstrated a concrete and commendable response to the Government’s call for enhanced private sector participation in healthcare delivery in Nigeria, which he stated was the bedrock of his administration’s Transformation Agenda.
He added that the commissioning of the hospital, which he described as a “noble project” marked a significant milestone which would consolidate and sustain progress in Nigeria- Turkish relations.
“Today’s commissioning of the Nigeria-Turkish Nizamiye Hospital in Abuja, represents another important landmark in the existing cordial relations between Nigeria and Turkey”, said the president.
Jonathan added that in line with the government’s commitment to the provision of improved healthcare for all Nigerians, a high Level National Committee of Experts chaired by Mr. Tony Elumelu was working
tirelessly to develop a network of improved modern healthcare infrastructure around the country, with Nigeria already signing a country to company investment memorandum of understanding with General Electric (GE), under which a number of world-class diagnostic and treatment facilities are currently being developed in Abuja, Lagos and other locations across our country.
He also noted that Private Sector initiatives such as the Nigeria -Turkish Nizamiye hospital, would help the Government’s efforts to halt the enormous capital flight arising from increased medical tourism, and the avoidable stress experienced by Nigerians on such missions.
