Medical Tourism: Foundation to Establish Children’s Hospital for Indigents

Kuni Tyessi in Abuja

To curb the disturbing trend of medical tourism and encourage the rise of the Naira, the Global Initiative for Peace, Love and Care (GIPLC) with support from Dickens Sanomi Foundation is set to establish a children’s hospital in Abuja.

The health facility which is billed to be in operation in the year 2028, and particularly proposed for the treatment of children from indigent backgrounds will be responsible for all pediatric cases with likely referrals abroad.

Founder of GIPLC, Nuhu Kwajafa, who disclosed this yesterday in Abuja during the presentation of over N300 million cheques to Hassana and Hussaina who are conjoined twins as well as 11 other children under the theme, “Touching lives everyday”, said the initiative has so far raised over 7 million dollars in its 19 years of existence.

He said N100 million was raised for the conjoined twins, another N100 million for 12 children, while yesterday night, another N100 million from an anonymous donor was sent for the children who are in varying hospitals in Port Harcourt, Enugu and Abuja.

While calling on well-meaning Nigerians to support the cause of the poor, he recalled that about two years ago, the foundation had a set of conjoined twins who were treated by a foundation owned by King Salman of Saudi Arabia.

However, there couldn’t be a repeat of the gesture in the case of Hassana and Hussaina.

Nuhu Kwajafa said: “We’ve been on for 19 years, and what we have offered in the 19 years is over $7 million, and this goes to tell that we have 100% support of our donors. Every donor must meet the children we support.

“Basically, what we do is, you see, it’s complex. What we’re dealing with the private hospitals, we ask donors to pay directly to the hospital so money doesn’t come to you, but when you’re dealing with a government hospital, the donor needs to give you the cash, because everything being spent in the hospital you have to buy it outside. We buy drip, we buy injection.

“What’s next for now, we are thinking of having our own children hospital in Nigeria here, because it’s so expensive flying children out of the country.

“So, we are discussing with our partners, the Kids Foundation, to see how we can have a hospital in Abuja here, even if not a big one, but at least, one that will take care of vulnerable children and communities that can’t have the basic needs. Hopefully by the end of 2028.

“We raised N100 million for the conjoined twins, another N100 million for 12 children.

“Then yesterday, night, another N100 million from a donor that we couldn’t even have the children down here because most of them are in varying hospitals in Port Harcourt, Enugu and Abuja.”

In his submission, representative of Dickens Sanomi Foundation, Goodluck Hayi, said the journey of transforming lives will continue, and the act of kindness will serve as a beacon of hope that will inspire others to give without hesitation and to love without boundaries.