Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje’s administration in Kano State is building one of the biggest and well equipped cancer treatment centers in Nigeria as a way of curbing medical tourism.
The governor disclosed this on Friday while addressing members of the Nigeria Medical Association, ( NMA) who were at the state for their quarterly National Executive Council (NEC) Meeting tagged “Kano 2019”.
At the NEC Meeting took place at Marhaba Event Centre, Farm Centre, Kano, Governor Ganduje described medical tourism as a very serious issue in the country that drained the resources of the country, which needed to be addressed.
According to him,“Medical tourism is a very serious issue in Nigeria. We are creating a big market for international communities, for other countries. We spend a lot of money in getting visas, in flying to those countries, in paying for medication, in staying in their countries, in order to get recouped, and also in doing so many other things while we are there.
“So, Nigeria being the most populous nation in Africa, we must reverse the situation,” Ganduje stated.
Speaking further, the governor said: “I am happy to inform you that in our very little way to bridge this technology gap, we purchased equipments that will certainly help us in order to curtail the medical tourism abroad.
“The issue of the prevalence of cancer is getting high in Kano State and we have to arrest the situation. What we have done is to see how best we can approach the system because there is an inherent problem accessibility and affordability.
“Under accessibly, government can provide the equipments, the center itself but how about affordability? That is the question. So in order to reduce medical tourism, those who are rich enough to go abroad and get services, we have planned that they can get such services in Kano State.
“For those who cannot afford, in the management of the center, out of what we get from the so rich, then we will make provision for the poor who will benefit from the system. So, the center will serve the rich and it will serve the less- privileged.
“From the information we have, going physically and through the internet, I am happy to inform you that the center will be the biggest in the country.”
In his address, the president of the Nigeria Medical Association, Dr. Francis Faduyile commended Governor Ganduje for his contributions to the development of the medical sector in the state.
He said:“I am aware that the governor has financed 100 ladies to go out of the country to go and specialize in different aspects of medicine.
”We know that this will facilitate the emergence of soft speciality and the practice of digital medicine in Kano State. He has also given opportunity for anyone that wants to go for speciality in any field of medicine and we thank you for that.”
He thereafter announced an Award of Excellence for the governor as an achiever in the overall health sector, who agrees to enlist the sector among key top most priority areas of his administration.
Presenting the Award to the governor Dr Faduyile, said, “Permit me to congratulate Kano state for her various positive contributions to commerce and agriculture in the country over the years, and the contributions of His Excellency the Governor, for effective healthcare delivery in the state.
“In the same vein, I want congratulate the Governor of Kano State for winning second term in office and for appointing Four Medical Doctors in his cabinet as Commissioners. I believe our members will greatly contribute to the success of your tenure.”
Parts of the reasons for the special Award to the governor, include, according to NMA President, “His Excellency’s unflinching support and concern for the health care delivery system. Governor Ganduje’s special interest and the political will, towards archiving the set goals, are what make him to stand high among many.”
He further said, the Award given to the governor on behalf of the entire Medical and Dentistry professionals and their families, adding that “We all believe that His Excellency is doing everything possible to see that he takes heath care sector to the next level.”
He mentioned, as drivers, for the good, effective and efficient healthcare delivery system in the state, the 100 female Medical students that are about to come back home after successful studies abroad.
“This among other things, like your Ultra Modern Specialist Hospitals of Khalifa Isyaka Rabi’u Paediatric Hospital, Zoo road and Muhammadu Buhari Specialist Hospital, Giginyu, are areas that encourage us, that Kano’s achievements have come to stay,” he said.
Kano’s contributory health care scheme, increasing the budgetary provision of the health sector, training and retraining of health workers and employment opportunities created by Ganduje’s administration were some of the other reasons advanced by the association, in considering Governor Ganduje) for the Award.
