Considering the scourge of ceaseless brain drain which the Nigeria health sector experiences and capital flight through medical tourism in foreign countries, Ondo State government has concluded plans to establish a $1.1 billion health facility in Akure, the state capital, to cater for both quality healthcare delivery and training of health personnel.
The establishment of the proposed biggest health facility named ‘Sunshine Medical City’ in Akure, Ondo State capital will be made to offer quality healthcare services to residents and non-residents of the state as well as to improve the quality of medical teaching in the state-owned University of Medical Sciences located in another major city – Ondo city, and other institutions with medical departments and faculties.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to mark the establishment of Sunshine Medical City was signed at Ondo State Governor’s Lodge, Asokoro in Abuja on Thursday between Ondo State government being represented by Ifedayo Abegunde, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) and Germany-based Health Institution – Medicus International, being represented by Frank Spriewald, Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
Speaking shortly after the signing of MoU, Governor Rotimi Akeredolu noted that Medicus International has good intention to develop the medical infrastructure in the state, hence, the choice of Ondo State, adding that the state government would set up a team of medics that would be headed by the Governor’s Special Adviser on Health, Jibayo Adeyeye, to work with Medicus International.
“I am more than convinced that Medicus has good intention. As I told them when they came, coincidentally about few weeks ago, I was in Germany myself and I saw their structure.
“When I was in Berlin, I was talking to another medical organisation to bring their facility to Ondo State. I was negotiating with them not knowing that someone else was already waiting for this. No doubt, we are interested in this. We have made efforts. We are already working on how to secure a land very close to the airport. It is an interesting thing,” he said.
Earlier, Oludare Bello, facilitator for Medicus International, said that the Sunshine Medical City would be completed within forty eight months, adding that the hospital would deal with all facets of healthcare and its nearness to the airport was strategic since the hospital would have its own helicopter that will traverse other parts of the state for medical purposes.
RAZAQ AYINLA
