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Medical Tourism: NMA, Archbishop Blast Nigerians
The Archbishop and Primate of Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Archbishop Nicholas Okoh, has called for an urgent intervention in the health sector to stem the tide of Nigerians seeking medical help in India.
Okoh made the call in his sermon at St. Matthews Church in Maitama, Abuja, during the thanksgiving service of the Nigeria Christian Pilgrims Commission (NCPC), yesterday.
“Are we going to become subjects of India like the British colonialists? “Those in charge of the nation’s health sector should make a mark this year; we have suffered too many adversities in our health sector for so long,” he said.
The Primate recounted that in recent times, several Nigerians had sought medical treatment abroad because of the parlous state of the country’s health sector.
Okoh noted that the corpses of some of the patients flown abroad only returned to the country.
He, therefore, urged the government to strive to reduce the high traffic of Nigerians to India for medical help.
The Primate said that the world was in dire need of peace in areas such as Central African Republic, Syria and the Middle East, and criticised the UN for its inaction in Syria, where thousands of people had been killed in the raging civil war.
In his remarks, the Executive Secretary of NCPC, Mr John Kennedy Opara, said that the commission was grateful to God for the success of the 2012 pilgrimage to the Holy Land.
Opara recalled that the transportation of pilgrims for the pilgrimage, which commenced on Oct. 25, 2012, recorded 120 flights without any unpleasant incident.
Opara announced that the commission would launch an Easter pilgrimage package on Jan. 28 and encouraged individuals to undertake the 11-day pilgrimage, which would cost N460,000.
In a related development, the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) is unhappy that Nigerians shun facilities and manpower at home for medical treatment abroad and is set to address the issue of medical tourism.
Its president, Dr Osahon Enabulele, said yesterday in Abuja that the NMA was determined to change Nigeria from a country whose citizens looked outward for Medicare into a place that attracted medical tourists.
He said the first step towards that goal was the meeting of minds at the first ever NMA National Health Summit to be held in Asaba between Jan. 20 and Jan. 27
.Enabulele stated that the summit was an opportunity to drive very proactive, purposeful and progressive proposals that would impact positively on the lives of Nigerians.
He said, “It’s aimed at driving very strategic proposals to reposition the medical profession and of course the health care system in our country Nigeria. “We have had to gather resource persons, professionals, stakeholders and indeed Nigerians, home and abroad to congregate in Asaba to discuss the issues that affect the health care system.
Enabulele said that the NMA did not want the summit to end with talks, but with action, and explained that other countries with thriving health care systems made progress as a result of developing synergy between the public and the private sectors.
The Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has begun the celebration of Nigeria’s 65th Independence anniversary with a Juma’at service where prayers were offered for the progress of the state and Nigeria.
Governor Fubara, who advocated for peace and unity of Nigeria during the prayers on Friday at the Rivers State Central Mosque, Port Harcourt, indicated that without peace, the accelerated development of Nigeria will remain in a limbo.
Governor Fubara, who was represented by Alhaji Abdurrazaq Diepriye, therefore urged citizens to remain patriotic.
According to him, “Allah has brought us this far. Without peace, we can not have progress and economic development. I call on all citizens irrespective of creed or tribe to remain patriotic.”
He thanked President Bola Tinubu for restoring peace in Rivers State while also using the forum to appreciate security agencies for their relentless effort in upholding the peace and unity of Rivers State and Nigeria.
The Chief Imam of Rivers State Central Mosque, Imam Ibrahim Yaloo, admonished Moslem faithful to always speak the truth, adding that those who obey Allah will be directed to good deeds and their sins forgiven.
Prayers were offered for Rivers State and Nigeria.
Other activities to mark the 65th Independence anniversary in the state include an Inter-denominational Church Thanksgiving Service on Sunday, 28th September and Parade Ceremony on Wednesday, 1st October.
Vice-President Kashim Shettima departed New York on Sunday after representing President Bola Tinubu at the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly.
In a statement released on Sunday by the VP media aide, Stanley Nkwocha, the Vice President is now headed to Germany, where he will hold strategic meetings with officials of Deutsche Bank.
The statement read, “Vice President Kashim Shettima has departed New York, United States, after successfully representing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, at the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly.
“During his participation at UNGA 80, VP Shettima secured UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ commendation for Nigeria’s bid for a permanent UN Security Council seat.
“He also showcased Nigeria’s $200 billion energy transition opportunity to global investors and strengthened strategic partnerships with the UK on trade, defence, and migration issues.”
Nkwocha added that the VP delivered Tinubu’s national statement, calling for UN reforms and a permanent seat for Nigeria at the UN Security Council, and “demanded Africa’s control over its $700 billion mineral wealth, and digital inclusion initiatives.”
“He also engaged with the Gates Foundation on healthcare and education expansion, positioning Nigeria as the natural hub for the African Continental Free Trade Area’s $3.4 trillion market.
“VP Shettima was seen off at John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York, by cabinet Ministers who were part of the UNGA 80 delegation and Nigerian Mission officials.”
The aide noted that Shettima will return to Nigeria immediately after his engagements in Germany.
The Tide source recalls that the VP departed Abuja, yesterday.
He led other Nigerian officials at the Assembly.
As part of Nigeria’s 65th Independence anniversary celebration, the Federal Government held a special thanksgiving service on Sunday at the National Ecumenical Centre in Abuja to offer prayers and give thanks for the nation.
The event drew top government officials and security chiefs, including Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, as well as their spouses.
Other notable guests included Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister of the Economy Wale Edun, former Plateau State Governor, Senator Simon Lalong, and the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, who led the service chiefs in attendance.
Service chiefs present included the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice-Admiral Emmanuel Ogala, Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun, Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Immigration Service, Mrs Kemi Nandap and Controller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Sylvester Nwakuche, among others.00
The service came days after the government unveiled the official theme and some of the activities slated for the 2025 Independence celebrations.
This year’s anniversary is tagged “Nigeria @ 65: All Hands on Deck for a Greater Nation,” as announced by the Director of Information and Public Relations at the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Segun Imohiosen, in a statement on Wednesday.
“As part of activities to mark the 65th Independence Anniversary, the Juma’at Prayer and the Inter-Denominational Church Service will be held on Friday, 26th September at 1 pm and Sunday, 28th September at 10 am respectively, as well as the World Press Conference on Monday, 29th September at 10 am,” he said.
The Tide source had earlier reported that President Bola Tinubu, alongside former Heads of State, Yakubu Gowon, Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, is expected as a special guest at a national discourse convened by the Island Club, Lagos, to mark Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary.
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