In a bid to provide citizens with access to world class healthcare, the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) says it has invested N6.12 billion (20 million dollars) in three teaching hospitals.
The Managing Director of NSIA, Mr Uche Orji, said this on Wednesday in Abuja, at the signing of a Public Private Partnership (PPP) agreement with the three hospitals.
The PPP agreement was with the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH) and the Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia (FMCU) to build, equip, maintain and operate modern medical centres.
Orji said under the agreements, N3 billion (10 million dollars) would be used to upgrade the Cancer Centre at LUTH to provide specialist care for cancer treatment.
He said AKTH and FMCU would benefit from an investment of N1.5 billion (five million dollars) each, focusing on improving their diagnostics centres.
According to him, the two hospitals will be equipped to provide medical microbiology services, routine chemical pathology, hematology tests and advanced radiography including MRI and CT services.
“The investment is expected to upgrade these institutions to modern medical centres and significantly enhance Nigeria’s ability to treat Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs).
“Investing in healthcare remains a vital component of the Nigerian Infrastructure Fund strategy.
“The enhancement of healthcare infrastructure in these institutions will contribute toward raising the quality and standard of care in Nigeria with outcomes which are consistent with the 2030 agenda for Sustainable Development,” he said.
Similarly, the Chairman, Board of Directors, NSIA, Mr Jide Zeitlin, said the N6.12 billion investment would reduce medical tourism and broaden access to good medical care in the country.
He said also the investment would improve treatment of cardiovascular, renal, orthopedic and oncological conditions in the country.
Also, the Minister of Health, Prof Isaac Adewole, who was represented by the ministry’s Director of PPP, Mrs Bisi Olowu, urged other investors to invest in the sector.
“This investment, though focused on Non-Communicable Diseases is the first of many which we believe will shape the future of healthcare in Nigeria and bring quality healthcare to many,” he said.
The Chief Medical Directors of LUTH, AKTH and FMCU, along with their board chairmen, thanked the NSIA for its efforts to improve healthcare provision in the country.
The projects with the three hospitals will be managed by the NSIA Healthcare Development and Investment Company (NHDIC).
As part of the programme, NHDIC has procured the services of internationally renowned equipment vendors including Varian (Switzerland), Siemens (Germany), JNC International (Nigeria) and Fuji Films (Japan).
These vendors will provide services including civil works, design, equipment installation and maintenance services for the centres.
Each centre will run as a joint venture between NSIA and the respective tertiary hospitals to ensure timely and efficient service delivery. (NAN)
