The first lady, Aisha Buhari said the newly inaugurated VIP wing of the Aso Villa medical centre will end health tourism for the president elect, Bola Tinubu, and future leaders.
KanyiDaily had earlier reported that President Muhammadu Buhari inaugurated the N21 billion presidential VIP wing of the state house medical centre on Friday, May 19.
Speaking with journalists at the inauguration on Friday, Aisha Buhari said the facility would eliminate the need for Bola Tinubu and his family to seek medical care overseas when he assumes office.
She further emphasized that with the new VIP wing in place, presidents and their family members may choose to bring in medical experts from abroad to provide assistance to their Nigerian counterparts.
She said, “They don’t need to go abroad now. They only need to maybe fly in experts to help our people. You know. So, no need for any leader to spend months and months abroad because of health care.”
Aisha revealed that the idea for the VIP wing was conceived six years ago after her husband’s prolonged trip overseas for medical treatment.
According to her, the State House Medical Centre was overwhelmed with thousands of patients, including the first family, necessitating the need for a dedicated facility.
She said, “I’m quite happy, feeling fulfilled. Though we are leaving but all the same, we thank God the project has come to reality.
“I have opted for it six years now. I initiated this project idea six years ago when my husband spent three months abroad, consecutively, 90 days. And it shouldn’t be because we have all the experts in Nigeria. We only need a good platform.
“The hospital that is supposed to serve the first family is serving like 35,000 people which is quite much. That’s why I insisted we should have a VIP wing within the proximity of the presidential villa.”
KanyiDaily recalls that Aisha Buhari, who escaped plane crash while returning from a medical trip to Dubai, had said there is an urgent need to develop the health sector in order to reduce medical tourism.
