The First Lady of Nigeria, Mrs Aisha Buhari, has called for the immediate probe of the state House Medical center, over poor management of the hospital despite its huge budgetary allocation.
Recall that a few weeks back the President’s daughter, Zahra Buhari, through social media reprimanded the hospital management for not having the basic equipment necessary in a hospital.
In support of her observation on the poor budgetary management of the clinic, Mrs Aisha Buhari in a programme in Abuja on Monday condemned the lack of hospital facilities such as syringe, drugs, x-ray machines.
Aisha, expressed her disappointment over the management, stating that the present administration had no room to tolerate corruption hence will investigate how the fund was spent.
She said, “Before I commence my speech, I’ll like to be realistic to say a few words concerning health in Nigeria and health delivery system in Nigeria. It’s very very very poor, sorry to say that. I am happy the MD of Aso Clinic is here, is he around? Dr. Munir (Dr. Hussain Munir, consultant cardiologist and the chief medical director at state house medical centre) or his representative? Ok, he is around.
“Ok Dr. Munir, I’m happy you are here. As you are all aware for the last six months, Nigeria wasn’t stable because of my husband’s ill health, we thank God he has fully recovered now.
“If somebody like Mr. President can spend several months outside Nigeria, then you wonder what will happen to a common man on the street in Nigeria.
“Few weeks ago, I was sick as well, they advised me to take the first flight out to London, I refused to go. I said I must be treated in Nigeria because there is a budget for an assigned clinic to take care of us.
“If the budget is N100 million, we need to know how the budget is spent. Along the line, I insisted they call Aso Clinic to find out if the X-ray machine is working, they said it is not working. They didn’t know I am the one that was supposed to be in that hospital at that very time.
“I had to go to a hospital that was established by foreigners in and out 100 percent. What does that mean?
“So, I think is high time for us to do the right thing. If something like this can happen to me, no need for me to ask the governors’ wives what is happening in their states. This is Abuja and this is the highest seat of government, and this is the presidential villa. One of the speakers has already said we have very good policies in Nigeria. In fact, we have the best policies in Africa. Yes. of course, we have, but the implementation has been the problem.
“So, we need to change our mindset and do the right thing. I’m sure Dr. Munir will not like me saying this but I have to say it out. As the Chief Medical Director, there are a lot of constructions going on in this hospital but there is no single syringe there what does that mean? Who will use the building? We have to be good in reasoning. You are building a new building and there is no equipment, no consumables in the hospital and the construction is still going on.
“Going back to the same health issue in Nigeria, as a result of spending several months by the President outside Nigeria, a 40-year-old man who was still living in his father’s house, created a …. and that is a major set back for the country and the health sector.”