Poor Information Encourages Medical Tourism

Lack  of information has
been identified  as largely responsible for the fledging medical tourism in Nigeria.
President Goodluck Jonathan, who stated this in his speech  at the 36th Annual Scientific Conference and General Meeting of the Association of General Private Medical Practitioners of Nigeria  (AGPMPN), explained that lack of information on locations where specific  medical services could be accessed, was a major problem.
President Jonathan, represented by the Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, noted that a majority of the  conditions for which  Nigerians sought medicare  abroad  could adequately be handled in Nigerian hospitals.
He commended  the association on the choice of this year’s theme and sub-theme, Environmental Protection and Health in a Developing Economy and Environmental Pollution and Medical  Waste Management respectively, saying there was no one better to discuss these matters which he observed would impact negatively on the health of citizenry.
He said as part  of measures to combat  the environmental problems in the country, has taken measures under international treaties on climate  change renewable energy and general environmental protection programmes.
The Governor of Rivers State, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi,  represented by the state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Sampson Tamuniyoriari Parker, called for a lasting solution to the environmental  issue of Niger Delta, saying that the region, being at the bottom of the Nigerian map makes it a drain collector, pointing out that this puts the region at risk of all   manner of health and environmental impacts.
In his welcome address, National President, AGPMPN, Dr. Authony A. Omolola, called for a close partnership between the private and public sectors  with improvements on regulations and policies, while  stressing that healthcare delivery cannot  improve  without the active participation of the private health sector, which he said  accounted for 70 per cent of healthcare  delivery in Nigeria.
Also speaking, the  AGPMPN chairman, Rivers State, Dr. Henry Sola, commended members for their participation particularly in the pre-conference medical outreach and thanked the state government and other sponsors for the support, while the keynote  address was given by one time vice chancellor, University of Port Harcourt, Prof. Nimi Briggs.

Tonye Nria-Dappa/ Kinawi Siakpugu

Governor Idris Wada of Kogi State (left), being shown a pictorial collage of the Revitalized ECWA Hospital by the Revitalization Committee, Mr Don Campion, whose missionary father, Dr George Campion, set up the hospital about 50 years ago, at the inauguration in Egbe, Kogi State, recently.