It’s shameful taking president abroad for treatment –Fashola

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fasho­la (SAN) has frowned on the rationale be­hind flying Nigerian presi­dents abroad for medical at­tention. He said the practice diminishes Nigeria’s image.

The governor, who spoke while inaugurating the 60-bed ultra-modern Cardiac and Renal Centre at the General Hospital, Gbagada, noted that flying the late former President, Musa Yar’ Adua to Saudi Arabia when he became critically ill to manage his kidney ailment, remains the low point in Nige­ria’s history.

He said: “We could have built one with all the petrol dollars. The Federal Govern­ment does not understand that it diminishes our image every time the head of government travels abroad for medical care,” he said, adding, he is not suggesting that all special­ist hospitals be built in Nige­ria.

According to him, in many countries the best hospitals were military where the President got treatment, adding that Nige­ria’s military hospitals used to be like that.

“What is the ailment that a Nigerian president goes to treat abroad that a Nigerian hospital built by him cannot handle?” he queried.

Explaining the rationale for the centre, the governor said the gov­ernment sponsored very sick Ni­gerians abroad in 2008 and 2014 with tax payer’s money.

“There were 42 cardiac cases and 28 renal cases that benefited from the gesture of compassion from the Ministry of Health.