Vice President Arc Mohammed Namadi Sambo today at the commissioning of the National Staff Hospital, Abuja, donated by the Chinese Government said that the President Goodluck Jonathan administration places high premium in providing affordable and world class healthcare services to Nigerians.
Arc Sambo who stated that the health sector was a critical priority of the UN MDGs, added that its importance was also reflected in the country’s national development objectives, particularly in the Vision 20:2020 and the Transformation Agenda.
“This administration is committed to the provision of quality and affordable healthcare for all Nigerians, the improvement of the quality of life, and the achievement of defined goals and targets.”
He therefore stated that the administration through a deliberate policy of improving technology, human capital, and infrastructure and in collaboration with the private sector is improving all healthcare institutions across the country, adding that this is yielding positive results.
Vice President Sambo while acknowledging the longstanding relations between Nigeria and China, which spanned over four decades, said “the construction of this hospital which will serve very useful purposes in improving the health status of millions of Nigerians, marks yet another milestone in Nigeria — China relationship. This is why today’s commissioning ceremony is very important to us as a country.
He also used the opportunity to express the gratitude of Nigeria to the government and good people of the Peoples Republic of
China, saying “China has been a very reliable ally of Nigeria in her development quest for several decades, not just in the health sector but also in other areas of national life.”
The Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Deng Boqing, in his remark said the one hundred and fifty-bed hospital built at the cost of twelve million US Dollars, was part of agreement reached under the China-Africa Cooperation adopted in 2006. Mr. Boqing said, the Chinese government will continue to support Nigeria in achieving its development plan and transformation agenda.
Speaking the Minister of Health, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu pledged that the facility would be maintained to serve the purpose. He said that the Ministry in complementing the Chinese effort built a twelve flats staff quarters and other infrastructure for enhanced and prompt service delivery to Nigerians.
The contract for the 150-Bed National Staff Hospital, built at a total cost of US$12.5 was signed on August 7, 2009, with actual work commencing on May 20, 2010 and by April 2012, the Hospital project had been completed and fully equipped with all necessary facilities.
