By Vivian Okejeme, Abuja
In a bid to ensure good healthcare delivery in Nigeria, President Muhammad Buhari, has commissioned a state-of-the art super speciality eye hospital in Abuja.
Buhari commended management of the Indian-owned Skipper Eye-Q Super Speciality Hospital, Abuja, which is the 3rd of it’s kind in Nigeria and 40th globally.
The President, who was represented by Rt. Hon. Chief Goodluck Nana Opiah, Minister of State, Education, assured the international community that the present administration would continue to provide an enabling environment for foreign and local investors.
Dr Opiah stated that with the Commissioning of Skipper Eye-Q Super Speciality hospital on Tuesday, the “frequency with which Nigerians travel abroad to seek eye care services with the attendant financial drain would be reduced.
Speaking at the occasion, founding partner of Skipper Eye-Q hospital, Dr Jitender Sachdeva, said the sighting of the world class medical facility in Abuja was to bring the hospital’s services closer to Northern Nigeria.
“We have two hospitals in Lagos, and we perform almost 100 surgeries in a month from the North. So, why not come close to the Northern part of the country, and there was no better option than Abuja.
“Abuja is a place that has a mixture of middle, lower and upper class; those who have the spending capacity.
“The Best of the equipments have brought into the facility for surgeries and checks so that people can get the best of eye care services.
Mr Sachdeva noted that Nigeria has a flourishing economy and an investment destination, and therefore urged other foreign companies to invest in the country.
Also speaking, the Chairman, NIgeria Medical Association, FCT Chapter, Dr Charles Ugwuanya said the eye hospital could not have come to Abuja at a better time.
Dr Ugwuanya noted that having successfully treated over one million patients for eye related issues, the hospital is indeed a huge advantage to Nigeria.
He exuded confidence that Nigeria’s healthcare sector would grow to enviable heights were Nigerian hospitals would also open branches abroad.
“We look forward to a Nigeria that our health indices will improve so much so that Nigerian hospitals will open branches in UK, Dubai and other countries.”
He appealed for an enabling environment where Nigerian doctors would be proud to work in Nigerian hospitals and stop moving abroad in their thousands.
In a goodwill message, the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Alkali Baba said that he made efforts to personally attend the opening of the hospital as an attestation to the tremendous benefits it had to Nigeria.
“When I heard that the hospital was opening it’s branch in Abuja, I said I will come and tell Nigerians that in as much as it will improve their business, it will benefit Nigerians as well.
He said that he had visited the Skipper hospital in India and that the Abuja hospital was a prototype adding that no Nigerian needed to travel abroad for eye care again.
Highpoint of the event was the cutting of the ribbon to officially open the hospital by Chief Goodluck Nana Opiah on behalf of President Muhammadu Buhari.
