…To Be Ready In 12 Months
By Wole Adedeji, Ilorin
A private outfit;l, ASR Initiative Africa has donated a N2.5 billion Oncology and Diagnostic Centre for the treatment of cancer to the Kwara State government.
While the construction of the Centre is slated to commence in August this year, it will begin full operation in 12 months time, according to the founder of the foundation, Alhaji Samad Rabiu.
Alhaji Rabiu made this known during a courtesy call on the Kwara State governor, AbdulRahman AbdukRazaq, at the Government House in Ilorin, the state capital.
He revealed that the specialist facility would be the best in the West African region for the treatment of cancer.
Recall that the wife of the immediate past governor of the state, Deaconess Omolewa Ahmed, had while in office, floated a cancer treatment hospital under her project; Leah Foudation, but the facility could only attend to the women-folk treating mainly, breast and pelvic cancers.
Meanwhile, the Chief Executive Officer, CEO, of ASR Initiative, while speaking during a courtesy call on Governor AbdulRahman said the organisation initiated the sum of $100 million for each year, pointing out that this year for instance, is geared towards education, health and social development in Africa.
Represented by the Group Executive Durector of the BUA Group,Alhaji Kabir Rabiu,he said, “We have decided to intervene in health care in four states in Nigeria with an investment of N2.5 billion in each of the four states.
“The project in Kwara State interests us very well. What will be built in Ilorin, Kwara State, will be a stand alone hospital, which will be the largest in West Africa. This will go a long way in reducing the pains of our people.
“We have seen the seriousness of this Kwara State government. We are ready and we will move to site in August, as directed by Alhaji Abdul Samad Rabiu. The project will be completed within 12 months.”
The businessman said that the facility would complement the “huge investments” of Governor AbdulRazaq in human capital development and the health sector, describing the recently concluded intensive care unit, ICU, facility of the administration as a watershed.
He added, “I congratulate His Excellency for the achievements recorded in education, health and infrastructure within the last two years. You have done well, especially on the 12-bed ICU, and this aligns with our vision to partner serious government to make impact on health care.”
Responding, the governor commended the ASR Chief Executive for his huge donations and other supports to the state, including another N1 billion to the University of Ilorin.
He said that his administration had been deliberate in revamping the health sector to make the state the go-to place for medical tourism in the North and some South-Western states.
He said, “This initiative will be another major attraction for the General Hospital, Ilorin, and the state. It is going to become a big deal for healthcare and Kwara will become the hub of medical tourism, especially in specialist care for states like Niger, Kogi, Osun and some parts of South-West, like Oyo and Ekiti States.
“We cannot quantify the huge benefits of these infrastructures we are putting in place. At the backend of it is the potential for the IGR of the state.
“We will also be attracting experts in this field, while the research that will be done in the facility will open new frontiers in cancer management. What we’re doing here is a whole lot of masterpiece that will make Kwara State a cancer centre in West Africa.
“So, health is our priority. Since we came in, we have made significant impacts. We have very good people managing our health facilities and we are seeing improvement in the health sector. In fact, on COVID-19 vaccination, we topped most of the indexes.
“I must commend our team in the health sector for the advocacy and good jobs and for the management of our health facilities. We have seen serious turnarounds in the rate of patient attendance in our hospitals.”
The state Health Commissioner, Dr Raji Rasaq, said that the present administration places high premium on the health sector, and it is enjoying the support of relevant donors.
Dr Raji said, “Kwara is now a fertile state, unlike in the past when it was rejected by donors. Governor AbdulRazaq is prioritising the health sector and we are now attracting all the support that is necessary.
He has invested hugely in the health sector and equipped a lot of hospitals and health facilities with the determination to reduce maternal mortality to the barest minimum.”
The Executive Chairman, Kwara State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr Nusirat Elelu, commended the ASR Africa Initiative for choosing Kwara State for the laudable initiative.
She said, “This intervention will go a long way in reducing medical tourism and help patients from the North Central zone and some part of South West. We will manage the cancer centre very well to attract more interventions from the Abdul Samad Rabiu Africa Initiative and other organisations.
“Since the news broke that Kwara State we will be playing host to the largest oncology centre in West Africa, we have been agog with a lot of congratulatory messages. We are confident that Kwara State will be a delightful host.”
