The Rivers State government plans to end overseas medical trips by its officials and other individuals in the state.
To this end, the government has equipped two hospitals, the Kesley Harrison Hospital, and the Dental and Maxillo-Facial Specialist Hospital, all in Port Harcourt, with world-class medical equipmentsand experts to handle critical matters.
National Coordinator of International Trauma and Care Centre(ITCC), Dr. Sydney Ibeanusi, disclosed this in Port Harcourt, yesterday, whileconducting journalists round the two hospitals.
Ibeanusi stated that ITCC will manage the two hospitals withits own foreign experts for a period of 20 years, during which it would trainits local personnel to take over from the foreign experts.
He said while the Kesley Harrison Hospital has taken off butwith only out-patients, the Dental and Maxillo-Facial Hospital, located atGarrison Junction, along Aba-Port Harcourt express road will take-off fully before theend of February 2013.
Ibeanusi expressed the hope that with the two hospitals openfor service, many Nigerians will prefer to visit Rivers State, instead oftravelling overseas for medical attention.
The ITCC coordinator said; “Governor ChibuikeRotimiAmaechihas provided for Nigerians two world-class medical facilities. The hospitalsare equipped with state-of-the art equipments that cannot be found else-wherein sub-saharan Africa.
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary, Rivers StateMinistry of Health, Dr. Godwin Mpi, said the idea behind the two hospitals wasto make sure that the people of the state get quality medical attention atminimal cost.