Nigerians spend $3 billion annually for their medical trips abroad, even in these so called “hard times” Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) Director, Mr. George Etomi, told The Nation.
Earlier in the month, there were rumors that the Central Bank Of Nigeria (CBN) would be shutting out sale of forex for school fees abroad as well as for those seeking medical treatment abroad, However the Banking committee lead by the MD/CEO of Access Bank Plc Herbert Wigwe, hinted that the shortages of forex was an indication that the country needed to revisit its educational system sooner rather than later.
The Nation also reported that Mr. Etomi, stated that the Federal government needs to invest in the health sector more to prevent a case where minor ailment such as headache will kill someone who is very healthy due to poor facilities,equipments and lack of trained personnel.
“A robust healthcare infrastructure is critical to the nation’s survival. Go to the Indian Embassy, for instance, you will be embarrassed at the queue of Nigerians willing to pay any amount to go and do simple hernia surgery,”
“In Nigeria, you can walk into a hospital as healthy man and then come back a corpse, because ordinary headache can kill you carelessly. So, we lose close to $3billion per annum just to get well.”
Acording to the EKEDC boss said Nigerians spend a whopping amount of $20,000 and $30,000 on treatments. We need to channel the money back to the economy by patronaising our own hospitals.
“Power will be available such that you will begin to get improved public services. We will forget depending on oil. We have to look at the multiplier effects and all these things rest on steady power supply.”
