AKTH will reduce medical tourism – Barau

The Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau Jibrin (CFR), on Sunday, inspected several ongoing healthcare infrastructure projects at the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH), expressing commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s medical sector in line with the policy direction of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration. During the visit, Senator Barau toured key projects including the construction […]

The Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau Jibrin (CFR), on Sunday, inspected several ongoing healthcare infrastructure projects at the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH), expressing commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s medical sector in line with the policy direction of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.

During the visit, Senator Barau toured key projects including the construction and equipping of the Cardiac Centre, Paediatrics Complex, Twin Theatre Complex, student hostel at the College of Nursing Sciences, classrooms and offices at the School of Health Information Management, and several road and interlocking works within the hospital premises.

Addressing journalists shortly after the inspection, the Deputy Senate President said the intervention was aimed at aligning with President Tinubu’s healthcare agenda, which seeks to reduce medical tourism and build a self-sufficient national health system.

“What we are doing is in line with the principles and programmes of Mr President, one of which is to improve healthcare delivery across the country, especially in specialised hospitals,” he said.

He added that Nigeria has the potential to deliver world-class medical services if existing human and material resources are properly harnessed.

“We have all it takes to deliver the best medical care to our people. What is needed is to harness our resources to provide a platform for effective service delivery. That is why I decided to intervene here at AKTH,” Barau noted.

The Kano-born lawmaker assured that the ongoing projects would, upon completion, transform AKTH into one of the best hospitals in West Africa, thereby reducing the country’s dependence on foreign medical facilities.

“By the grace of God, this hospital will soon become one of the best in Nigeria and West Africa. People will no longer have to spend foreign exchange seeking medical attention in countries like Egypt or India,” he said.