The Deputy Governor of Gombe State, Manasseh Daniel Jatau, has said the billions of naira Nigerians spend on medical tourism could instead be invested in building world-class hospitals across the country, urging governments, the private sector, and healthcare stakeholders to work together to strengthen Nigeria’s health system and reduce maternal and infant mortality.
Jatau spoke on Thursday at the commissioning of Alliance Hospital’s new paediatric healthcare centres in Abuja, where he stressed that improving healthcare delivery should not be left solely to medical professionals but should be a collective responsibility.
“Health is too important to be left only in the hands of medical personnel alone,” he said, calling on all Nigerians to contribute in whatever capacity they can to improve healthcare delivery and ensure better health outcomes.
The deputy governor lamented the persistent disparity in access to quality healthcare, particularly in rural and underserved communities, citing the Inverse Care Law to explain the imbalance in healthcare distribution.
“The Inverse Care Law simply says that where there is the greatest need for medical facilities, that is where you have the least supply,” he said, noting that many Nigerians who need quality healthcare the most are unable to access it.
Jatau advocated stronger collaboration among medical professionals, researchers, and institutions to develop indigenous vaccines, medicines, and food supplements from Nigeria’s abundant natural resources.
He appealed to medical associations and research institutions to support local research capable of producing vaccines and drugs from plants, herbs, and other natural resources found in the country.
“If we are really serious, we can produce our own vaccines,” he said, adding that Nigeria would significantly reduce healthcare costs by producing medicines locally rather than relying on imports.
The deputy governor criticised the huge sums spent annually on medical treatment abroad, saying those resources could transform Nigeria’s healthcare sector if invested locally.
“Honestly, the money that we use for medical tourism can establish the best hospitals in all the cities of this country, well equipped and well furnished,” he said.
He also emphasised the need to prioritise the welfare of healthcare workers, saying motivated staff are essential to quality healthcare delivery.
“Take care of your staff, then they will take excellent care of your clients, who will in turn become your ambassadors,” he added.
The event marked the commissioning of Alliance Hospital’s new paediatric and neonatal critical care centres, established to improve specialist care for infants, children, and critically ill newborns.
The new facilities include medical and surgical paediatrics, emergency paediatric services, a Special Care Baby Unit, a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, paediatric sickle cell care, and child health and wellness services.
Speaking at the event, the Chief Medical Director of Alliance Hospital, Christopher Otabor, said the new centre was established to bridge the shortage of specialist healthcare services for newborns and children.
“You cannot put money on healthcare; you cannot put money on human lives,” Otabor said, adding that the facility would save lives and give hope to many families.
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He argued that the private sector must play a leading role in addressing Nigeria’s healthcare challenges, noting that government resources alone cannot meet the country’s healthcare needs.
“Alliance Hospital alone cannot reduce the numbers, but we can set the pace and bring leadership,” he said, urging more doctors and investors to establish specialist healthcare centres.
Otabor said expanding world-class specialist hospitals in Nigeria would help curb medical tourism and retain healthcare spending within the country. He disclosed that about half of the hospital’s kidney transplant patients now come from outside Nigeria because treatment is cheaper than in many Western countries.
He also highlighted the shortage of neonatal intensive care beds, saying many newborns die because hospitals lack available spaces for critically ill babies.
“Mothers have called me asking if we had space in our neonatal intensive care unit, and often the answer has been no. Many of those mothers quietly lose their children,” he said.
Otabor assured that services at the new centre would remain affordable despite its advanced facilities. He disclosed that Alliance Hospital treated more than 100,000 patients last year and said the expansion would enable it to provide care for even more children.
Also speaking, former Deputy Governor of Edo State, Philip Shaibu, urged Nigerians, particularly private sector operators, not to wait for government before contributing to national development.
“Don’t wait for government,” Shaibu said, stressing that sustainable progress requires individuals and organisations to take initiative.
He lamented the poor maintenance culture surrounding public healthcare facilities, recalling that ambulances and other medical equipment donated during the COVID-19 pandemic later became unusable due to neglect.
Shaibu also urged honest and principled Nigerians to participate actively in politics, arguing that the country’s governance would only improve if people of integrity entered public office without compromising their values.
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