In an effort to achieve the Millennium
Development Goal target, 2015, the Chinese government yesterday handed
over a newly-built $12.5million Federal Staff Hospital to its Nigerian
counterpart.
Commissioning
the hospital in Abuja, President Goodluck Jonathan said the facility
would serve useful purposes in improving the health status of millions
of Nigerians.
Jonathan, who was represented by Vice President, Namadi Sambo, noted: “The health sector is very critical to the attainment of United Nations Millennium Development Goals 2015 target.
“This administration is committed to the provision of quality and affordable health care for all Nigerians.”
According to him, China has a very reliable ally in Nigeria not just in health sector but in other aspects of human lives.
The President said the relationship between China and Nigeria dated back to 1970 when formal diplomatic relations were established between both countries.
He said: “Since then, the relationship between the two countries has waxed strong with the signing of many cooperation agreements.
“China and Nigeria shares so much in common. There is therefore so much that we can gain from each other by strengthening and broadening our established partnership. China has become a significant destination for Nigeria’s trade including crude oil.
The conception of the hospital, according to Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Deng Boqing, dates back to 2006 when at the Beijing Summit of China-Africa Cooperation Forum, the Chinese government declared eight measures to help African countries raise their people’s livelihood and further promote friendly relations between China and African countries.
One of the measures, he said, was that China would build 30 hospitals in Africa, adding that “Nigeria was chosen to be one of the recipient countries.
“With a total investment of over $12 million, the hospital has been built and completed within twenty-two months, and is now going to be handed over to the Nigerian government,” Boqing said.
In his speech, Minister of Health, Prof Onyebuchi Chukwu, noted that the gesture had upgraded the hospital, which was formerly a colonial hospital with very few prospects for survival to its present 150-bed state.
The 150-bed hospital, which covers 8,000 square metres, is a product of the bilateral relationship between the two countries.
Jonathan, who was represented by Vice President, Namadi Sambo, noted: “The health sector is very critical to the attainment of United Nations Millennium Development Goals 2015 target.
“This administration is committed to the provision of quality and affordable health care for all Nigerians.”
According to him, China has a very reliable ally in Nigeria not just in health sector but in other aspects of human lives.
The President said the relationship between China and Nigeria dated back to 1970 when formal diplomatic relations were established between both countries.
He said: “Since then, the relationship between the two countries has waxed strong with the signing of many cooperation agreements.
“China and Nigeria shares so much in common. There is therefore so much that we can gain from each other by strengthening and broadening our established partnership. China has become a significant destination for Nigeria’s trade including crude oil.
The conception of the hospital, according to Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Deng Boqing, dates back to 2006 when at the Beijing Summit of China-Africa Cooperation Forum, the Chinese government declared eight measures to help African countries raise their people’s livelihood and further promote friendly relations between China and African countries.
One of the measures, he said, was that China would build 30 hospitals in Africa, adding that “Nigeria was chosen to be one of the recipient countries.
“With a total investment of over $12 million, the hospital has been built and completed within twenty-two months, and is now going to be handed over to the Nigerian government,” Boqing said.
In his speech, Minister of Health, Prof Onyebuchi Chukwu, noted that the gesture had upgraded the hospital, which was formerly a colonial hospital with very few prospects for survival to its present 150-bed state.
Now we are professional beggars after we squander our resources.
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