‘Nigerians Spend N81bn Annually, On Medical Tourism’

An expert in medical tourism, Dr Ufuoma Okotete, on Friday said that Nigeria lost N81 billion annually to medical tourism.

Okotete, who is the Director, Diamond Helix Medical Assistance, an international medical referral organisation, disclosed this in an interview with in Lagos.

She said that an average air ticket to India cost about N250,000, adding that the Indian High Commission in Lagos issued about 40 medical visas per day.

According to her, this is as a result of lack of medical facilities and treatment procedures.

“The Nigeria medical situation is so sad; we lack modern medical facilities and well functioning multi-medical specialty, poor diagnostic services and poor infrastructure. “We lack national healthcare plan, and if there are any, it is not implemented to meet the needs of the people thus increasing the rate of medical tourism,” she said.

Okotete said that Nigerians fell into the category of “Medical Refugees”, a person who has been forced to leave the country in order to escape death from unavailable medical needs”.

She said that the high cost of getting medical attention outside the country had caused many people to sell their properties and some died because they could not afford it.

According to her, medium surgery patients spend as much as 8,000 dollars for treatment while a spinal surgery patient spends 15,000 dollars.

“Renal transplant surgeries cost about 20,000 dollars without after surgery maintenance. “An average cardiac surgery cost about 8,000 dollars for children and 15, 000 dollars for adult. “A cancer patient spends more than 20,000 dollars for the total cost of treatment.

“An air ambulance to Germany cost N20 million while an average ambulance charter to India cost N30 million.

“All these huge amount of money goes out of Nigeria everyday whereas, we can keep them here, if we do the right thing,” she said.

She also called on the Federal Government to create conducive environment that would encourage investors to invest in the nation’s health sector.

How Rivers Won Abuja Carnival

Shrugging-off apparent despondency arising from last year’s lack-lustre performance, the Rivers State contingent to the just concluded Annual Abuja Carnival returned home, Wednesday cultural conquerors.

The Rivers team finished over-all best performing state in a cultural fiesta that witnessed some of the best and brightest of contemporary Nigeria.

Before receiving the over-all winner’s giant trophy, the Mr Dan Ibubeleye-led Rivers contingent had won gold in six categories and performed creditably in others.

The Tide learnt that Team Rivers came first in the Best Masquerade Costume category; Food Fair, Best Boat Regatta, Best Carnival King, performed by ace Nollywood actor, Gentle Jack.

Rivers State also came third in the most spectacular masquerade display category and finished fourth in the cultural night performance which Lagos State eventually won.

But leader of the state’s theatre team, Adafe Jaja wondered how Lagos State that was not shortlisted as some of the best to perform at the Aso Rock Banquet hall could emerge winners in that category.

According to him, screening of the best few groups, was done during the day out from which only a few were shortlisted to perform. That list did not include Lagos which was announced eventual winners.

In the end however, Rivers won a total of nine laurels and emerged over-all best performing state troupe in the Abuja carnival. Bayelsa finished second, Akwa Ibom, third while the fourth position was shared among Oyo, Benue and Kogi States.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics), University of Port Harcourt, Prof. Igho Joe, Chairperson, Communique Committee, Prof. Stella William, and Team Leader, US Alumni Engagement Innovation, Dr Morufat Balogun, during a workshop in Choba, Port Harcourt, on Wednesday.