The Chief of Staff to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Rt Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, has rated the presidential wing of the State House Medical Centre very high, saying it meets international standards with its world class and state-of-the-art medical equipment.
The Chief of Staff made the observation on Monday while taking a tour of the twenty-one billion naira (N21,000,000,000)-medical facility, which is an extension of the existing medical centre located inside the Presidential Villa in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.
“Once all administrative records are cleared, the health facility will serve the purpose for its establishment.
It is for them to dot the I’s and cross the T’s and put finishing touches, and I think we’ll be proud to say that we have a clinic of international standard like this one,” said Gbajabiamila.
The Chief of Staff highlighted the advanced medical equipment, including a state-of-the-art Cath Lab, MRI machine, fully equipped ICUs, advanced telemedicine and diagnostic labs, and a unique C-ARM, among others.
“Having been here a few months, let’s have a look and see exactly what is going on.
I am very impressed, and I’m sure you are as well because you went around with me. This is a clinic like anywhere in the world you will find; the standard is very high,” he noted.
During the visit, COS Gbajabiamila expressed high satisfaction with the standard of the facility which features advanced medical equipment including a Cath Lab, MRI machine, fully equipped ICUs, advanced telemedicine and diagnostic labs, a unique C-ARM amongst others.
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It is noteworthy that the State House Hospital was constructed during the presidency of the immediate past administration of Muhammadu Buhari, whilst the Chief of Staff was Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Gbajabiamila noted that the funds allocated during his tenure as Speaker of the House of Representatives were judiciously utilized.
Speaking on the timeline for the facility’s full utilization, the Chairman of Clinical Services at the State House, Dr. Jane Ifechukwu, clarified that the facility’s current status was skeletal, awaiting approval and the decision of the State House authorities to begin operation.
“What we have here is skeletal, just the way we were having the Villa Clinic.
But once we dot the I’s…, we can’t take decisions on our own; they give us the go-ahead, and we are good to go.
We actually discourage medical tourism, and I can’t speak now. I am waiting for our principals, our bosses, to do that; and then the permanent secretary will give us a directive, and then we can do it,” she explained.
