NSIA begins construction of cancer diagnostic, treatment centre in Bauchi

The Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) through its special-purpose vehicle called Advanced Medical Services Limited (MedServe) has flagged off the construction of Oncology and Diagnostic Centers at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH), targeting over 350,000 patients.

Speaking on Friday in Bauchi during groundbreaking ceremony, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NSIA who is also the the Chairman of MedServe, Aminu Umar-Sadiq siad that the Authority recognised the importance of healthcare as a key component of national development hence the focus on creating opportunities for all Nigerians to optimise healthcare outcomes through MedServe.

Sadiq added that MedServe, through the phased healthcare expansion would further improve healthcare delivery in Nigeria and attract additional investment in medical infrastructure.

Also speaking Managing Director of MedServe, Dr. Tolulope Adewole said that the Centers are parts of the healthcare expansion programme from the success of the NSIA-LUTH Cancer Centre (NLCC), NSIA-Kano Diagnostic Centre (NKDC) and the NSIA-Umuahia Diagnostic Centre (NUDC).

According to him, the expansion programme would significantly optimise oncology and diagnostic care in Nigeria by the establishment of 23 diagnostic centres, three additional oncology centres and 7 catheterization laboratories co-located within federal tertiary institutions across the six geo-political zones of Nigeria.

Tolulope said that the new oncology and diagnostic centers are projected to serve approximately 5,000 and 350,000 patients respectively, significantly reducing the burden of cancer and improving preventive care through diagnostics.

He said that the initiative would reduce outrageous medical tourism outside the country while strengthening the nation’s currency.

The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Ali Pate reiterated President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to prioritise the health sector to build a healthy nation for productivity.

The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of Economy said that the project was concurrently done in different parts of the country as part of efforts to achieve universal health coverage (UHC).

While responding, Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed applauded the Tinubu-led government for the laudable projects he has initiated in the state.

He commended Tinubu for the establishment of the Teaching Hospital in Azare and Federal Medical Centre, Misau. He said that he has initiated projects that are capable of reducing anger.