Governor of Rivers State, Mr. Nyesom Wike, has said he won’t travel abroad for medical check-up, saying everything he need for medical examination was in the Government House Clinic built by his administration.
Mr. Wike said this when a delegation of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria paid him a courtesy visit at the Government House, Port Harcourt on Wednesday.
The governor’s comment comes at a time when the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), is in London for medical check-up.
Mr. Wike, in a statement signed by his Special Assistant on Media, Kelvin Ebiri, urged the council to resist playing politics with approved quota for medical and dental schools in Nigeria, particularly the Rivers State University College of Medical Sciences.
“The health care system in Nigeria requires very serious attention. It is unfortunate where we are. I don’t want to comment on people who are traveling for medical check. I have not travelled for the past two years.
“If we have all these things here why do we have to travel. We have all it takes to provide it. Why will I go out to do my check (overseas) when I have all the facilities in Government House?
“I don’t need it. Everything that is required for me to undergo any test is here. The resources we have it. Why can’t we provide it for our people?”
Mr. Wike further said his government would sign a contract for the construction of a world-class cancer and cardiovascular diseases centre with Julius Berger, saying when the centre, which is expected to be completed within 14 months is ready, would boost the internal revenue of the state government.