Stop travelling abroad for medical treatment, Senator tells Buhari

The Senator representing Kaduna State Danjuma La’ah has asked President Muhammed Buhari and other top political office holders to stop patronizing foreign hospitals for medical treatment at the expense of State House Clinic in Abuja.

Penpushing reports that, La’ah said this when the State House Permanent Secretary, Tijani Umar, appeared before the Senate Committee on Federal Character and Intergovernmental Affairs for the State House’ 2021 budget defence.

The federal lawmaker posited that, Buhari should henceforth use the State House Clinic which is situated at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, stressing that stopping the President and other Presidential officials from travelling abroad for medical treatment will help ensure that the clinic becomes more functional and effective.

Penpushing further reports that, La’ah assured that the committee would approve the budget for the State House Clinic but insisted that the President and other officials should stop travelling abroad for medical treatment.

“Our President is not a man to be taken out anytime or anything that happens to him on sickness matter. He must attend our clinic here and we must make sure that we equip our hospital to the best of our ability so that any emergency will be first taken care of here before flying out if the need arises’.

“It is already approved, N1.3 billion for State House Clinic. I want this thing done and I want the credit to go to the whole committee – leave a legacy for the State House,  that the clinic we requested was done within the shortest time.”

The Senator stated that oversight will be done monthly, if all that is needed is provided, adding that  two years will be given to the State House for completion of the clinic.

Penpushing also reports that, the Permanent Secretary  presented the 2021 budget estimate of N19.7 billion, while of the estimate, N1.3 billion was allocated to the State House Clinic, adding that  necessary arrangements will be put in place to meet the medical needs of the President and other top officials once the budget was approved.

“Today we had the privilege of appearing before this senate committee. It is not correct to say the state house clinic is in comatose. It is not. We have realigned some many things and one of the fundamental challenges we have dealt with is the sustainable supply of drugs and consumables. Don’t forget that this is derived from the budget.

“We have appealed to the committee to assist us with the presidential wing of the state house clinic. The N1.3 billion is absolutely inadequate when you juxtapose the amount proposed and the labour – the status of the principals that that project is going to serve and you compare with worldwide standards you see that it is not anything near what we need.”