- The National Hospital Abuja plans to establish a VIP section with advanced facilities, including a toxicology lab and specialized clinics
- Chief Medical Director Prof. Mahmud Raji emphasizes the new section’s importance in addressing health challenges and attracting investment
The National Hospital Abuja is set to establish a VIP section that will cater to presidents, top government officials, and other distinguished personalities from Nigeria and abroad. The hospital’s Chief Medical Director, Prof. Mahmud Raji, disclosed this during a visit to the headquarters of Media Trust Group in Abuja.
Prof. Raji revealed that the VIP section would include a residential building or accommodation facility comparable to a five-star or seven-star hotel, designed to serve all categories of VIPs. This section will be equipped with a toxicology lab, the first of its kind in any public health facility in Nigeria. The lab will provide services such as testing for poisons in food or the environment, particularly in emergencies involving visiting dignitaries.
In addition to the toxicology lab, the VIP section will house a renal clinic for kidney transplants, a cardiac center, an orthopedic center, and a neuroscience institute that will offer training and medical services. Prof. Raji emphasized the importance of these facilities in addressing the increasing number of kidney disease cases and cardiac-related deaths in Nigeria, where there is currently a lack of modern transplant facilities and high costs at private clinics.
The hospital is considering a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model to fund the development of this VIP section. Still, it may also seek government assistance due to the many projects it is undertaking amid limited resources.
As part of its 25th anniversary celebrations, scheduled from September 2nd to 8th, the National Hospital Abuja will reflect on its growth and achievements since its establishment in 1999. Prof. Raji highlighted the hospital’s expansion in manpower, equipment, infrastructure, and medical advancements over the years. The anniversary activities will include a symposium and a gala night.
Prof. Raji also noted that many Nigerians are unaware of the advanced medical facilities and services available in the country, leading to a continued reliance on medical tourism. He stressed the importance of reducing brain drain and capital flight while attracting more investment into the Nigerian health sector. This need has inspired the hospital’s outreach for collaboration with the Media Trust Group and other partners.
Prof. Raji praised the Media Trust Group for its credible news reporting and its commitment to factual and reliable journalism. He pledged that the National Hospital Abuja would continue prioritising and strengthening the partnership between the two organizations.
In response, Media Trust Group’s group chief executive officer, Malam Ahmed Shekarau, acknowledged the organization’s growth from a weekly newspaper in 2001 to a comprehensive multimedia company today.
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