As the country marks it centenary celebration next year, the Organizing Committee of the Nigerian Centenary Charity Ball has revealed that Nigerians now spend an estimate of N250 billion on medical tourism annually.
The secretary of the organizing committee, Dr. Kingsley Esegbue, stated this during on Monday in Abuja at a press conference on their preparations for the country's centenary celebration at it relates to challenges in the health sector.
He further said the committee planned to use the Centenary Celebration to generate about N8 billion for medical facilities in the country.
Lamenting the state of the health sector in the country, Esegbue said that capital flight was unnecessary for a developing country like Nigeria, noting that that the medical problems that cause these medical flights could be handled in Nigeria if the facilities were there.
He said, "Sealing a hole in a child's heart need not cripple the parents financially or take place in India; replacing a damaged kidney should and can be done within our borders. Every breast, cervical or prostate cancer patient should have access to quality care within Nigeria. Our neurosurgery units need to serve the Nigerian people."
no woman should have her bladder torn giving birth, and for victims of cruel acid attacks, re-constructive surgery should within our borders
"Nigeria is blessed with skilled healthcare professionals. What are required is the infrastructure/technology and perhaps the will.
"Certainly, this is what the Nigerian Centenary Charity Ball hopes to achieve by equipping already existing National Referral Centers for heart, kidney diseases, neurosurgery, cancer care and management.
Speaking also, the Nigeria Union of Journalist, Abuja Council chairman, Comrade Chuks Ehirim, blamed the political class for the huge capital flight to other countries for health services that we could easily have here, noting that the political class pays lip service to their of patriotism for the country.
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