Reference Hospital Okene will be central hub of world medical tourism-CMD Avidime
The Chief Medical Director, (CMD) and Chief Executive Officer, Reference Hospital Okene Prof Solomon Avidime said the Kogi State Government is committed towards ensuring that the medical facility becomes the central hub of medical tourism in the world.
Prof. Avidemi disclosed this in Lokoja on Monday when he received the 2024 award of excellence from the management of Nigerian Post newspaper with the theme “sustaining Kogi’s unbroken unity, prospects and possibilities, this house must not fall”.
The Medical Doctor noted that the State Government has invested massively in the health sector, adding that, reference hospital Okene has all the equipment to attend to the health needs of Nigerians and the world in general.
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” Particularly, when we talk about the health sector, Kogi State has gone very far at an advanced stage. The Government has invested so heavily on health infrastructure. We are building human resources and I can tell you that in the nearest future, Kogi State will be the hub of medical tourism in the world.
“A typical example is the reference hospital in Okene where we have all what it takes as an international hospital to attend to international patient in accessing health care in our facility”he stated.
He, however, commended the immediate past Governor of Kogi State Alhaji Yahaya Adoza Bello for putting the edifice in place. ” I also want to thank Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo for also sustaining the good legacies of his predicessor” he added.
Prof. Avidemi, however, debunked reports in some quotas that Reference Hospital Okene is very expensive for patient to receive medical care in Kogi State.
Explaining further, the Chief Medical Director said “It is not true. The hospital is not expensive. Reference hospital Okene is under the supervision of the State Government. The State Government is able to provide succour for patients who has little finance to foot their medical bills.
” We have easy access to get card, and see any doctor or specialist. We have been doing surgeries at a minimum cost that patients could afford. The CT scan and the MRI here in the hospital are put at a minimum cost in such a way we can attract patients from far and near to have access to our health services. Our health care is accessible and is very cheap”.
Speaking on the achievement Kogi State in the health sector at 33, Prof. Avidemi said “looking at the modest achievement, we are doing well in complementing Government efforts at reference hospital Okene. Kogi at 33, we are not where we were before. Kogi State has moved forward compared to when it started 33 years ago.
“I can tell you that the prospect is very bright looking at the lectures delivered today, you would see that their emphasis is on unity as the base line for us to make progress to achieve development. I am very hopeful that moving forward to Kogi at 40, we would have gone further than where we are now”.
