Official Unveiling Of Evercare Hospital, Lekki, Lagos On 11/03/2021

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REMARKS BY HIS EXCELLENCY, PROF.  YEMI OSINBAJO, SAN, GCON, VICE PRESIDENT OF NIGERIA AT OFFICIAL UNVEILING OF THE EVERCARE HOSPITAL, LEKKI, LAGOS STATE, ON THE 11TH OF MARCH, 2021.

PROTOCOLS

It is an absolute pleasure to join you today to mark what is truly an exciting moment for healthcare in Nigeria. The opening of the Evercare Hospital. And this is not just because of the several groundbreaking innovations that come in the package, and we have heard quite a bit of this already but perhaps even more what this portends for the future of medical care and support in Nigeria and indeed sub-Saharan Africa.

The business case for more top quality medical care in Nigeria has always seemed quite obvious, but I think the fact that the Evercare Health Fund, a US$ 1billion emerging markets healthcare fund has chosen to invest in healthcare in Nigeria, clearly confirms even to the greatest skeptics, that we are seeing the birth of what may well become one of the fastest growth areas in a resurgent Nigerian economy.

Secondly, it has been popular wisdom for a while that we must reverse the trend of outbound medical tourism and begin to attract not just medical tourists from our neighbors in the region, but also become the place of choice for even developed country medical tourists looking to jump long queues for specialized procedures at home or simply shopping for cheaper fees for first-class healthcare. But we also knew that without the interest of international private medical practices to deepen the Nigerian healthcare system, this dream may remain just that, a dream.

Thirdly, we have by far the largest number of middle-to-low income communities and individuals in sub-Saharan Africa who require affordable, high-quality healthcare.

Fourthly, is that existing top-quality hospitals in Nigeria today can do with some strong and healthy competition.

Fifth, we have talked a great deal about beginning to reverse the brain drain of medical personnel trained in Nigeria who are engaged in hospitals abroad. Of course, the reasons for voting with their feet are obvious, better remuneration and better facilities.

But again, only serious private sector investment in high-quality healthcare services offering top compensation for its personnel could possibly create an attractive proposition to reverse the trend.

So today we are witnessing the convergence of many dreams and desires. With the unveiling today of this first of its kind purpose-built, 165 bed state-of-the-art international private hospital, that offers a wide range of specialty medical and surgical services. I am particularly pleased to note that in addition to its local world-class personnel the hospital will leverage technology to consult with international specialists across the 29 hospitals and 16 clinics that are currently in its portfolio. Without doubt, this is the way of the future.  And I think, His Excellency, Governor Babajide Sanwo-olu alluded to it, that telemedicine is certainly where we must be and we will be, perhaps only in the coming weeks and months.  We are certainly set for exciting times in the Nigerian healthcare story.

And we must commend the management of the Evercare Hospitals group for the excellent quality of this facility, and the wide range of services on offer and appreciate you again for believing in our Nation. Congratulations!

Before I end these remarks, please permit me to digress for a moment to commend you, Governor Babajide Sanwo-olu, and your team on your handling of the COVID-19 pandemic so far. Thanks for showing the world what strong, knowledgeable leadership can deliver even in the wake of an unprecedented global health crisis. Very well done!

It is, therefore, with great pleasure, that I have the privilege of officially commissioning the Evercare Hospital Lekki.

Thank you and God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

God bless you all.