First Lady Aisha Muhammadu Buhari yesterday in Abuja formally laid the foundation for a 200-bedded N15bn hospital project initiated by the Naval Officers’ Wives Association (NOWA).
Mrs Buhari, represented by the Mrs Dolapo Osinbajo, wife of the vice president, said she would ensure the project was delivered before the end of the tenure of her husband.
The hospital sited at Plot 345, Galadimawa District, Abuja, will cater for respiratory diseases, chronic disease, eye challenge, genitourinary, among other health complications.
She stated: “This, when completed, would help cater for the health care needs of women and children in Nigeria. The statistics on health care needs particularly as it relates to women and children reveal a need for urgent intervention.
“Nigeria grapples with a growing population amid dwindling resources to revamp health care needs in the country. This project is key into Mr President’s desire to ensure that every Nigerian, especially women and children in the face of dwindling resources.”
Earlier, Hajiya Nana Aisha Gambo, wife of the Chief of Naval Staff, said: ‘’Indeed, the uncomfortable state of health of a reasonable population of Nigerian women and children are known to all of us. In fact, the recent UNICEF statistics gives a good account of this assertion.
“Sadly, it further suggests that about 262,000 babies die at birth in Nigeria annually, which is the second highest national figure in the world.
“Because we’re involved, it’s not surprising that we’re losing our women and children daily due to inadequate medical care and particularly insufficient mother and child hospitals.’’
