‘Nigerian elite spend N250b on medical treatments abroad’

The organising committee of the Nigerian Centenary Charity Ball has said the Nigerian elite, both in public and private sectors spent about N250 billion annually on medical treatments abroad. 

            

The Secretary of the Organising Committee of the Charity Ball, Dr. Kingsley Esegbue, stated this at a press briefing in Abuja on Monday.

Esegbue said his committee planned to raise N8 billion at the upcoming centenary celebrations for the upgrading of medical facilities in the country.

He lamented the quantum of capital flight arising from medical tourism by Nigerians, stressing that the development has continued to drain the nation’s scarce resources.

According to him, the various medical problems that drain the country of such resources could be tackled at home if the necessary facilities were put in place.

Esegbue said: “Sealing a hole in a child’s heart need not cripple the parents financially or take place in India. Replacing a damaged kidney could 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 in the process of giving birth; and for victims of acid attacks, reconstructive surgery should be done within our borders.

“Nigeria is blessed with skilled healthcare professionals. The requirements are 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 and kidney diseases, neurosurgery, cancer care and management.”

The committee scribe added that Nigerians, at home and in the Diaspora, would be mobilised for collective action towards making life more abundant for the average citizen.