First Lady Seeks Collaboration With Korea To Aid Health Sector

The First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, on Saturday said she would collaborate with the Samsung Hospital in Seoul as part of efforts to bring relief to the health sector in Nigeria.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Samsung hospital, which was built on a former rice paddy, specialises in treatments for cancer, cardiac and cerebrovascular, neurology and also undertakes organ transplants.

Jonathan said: ``I'm here today because I learnt Samsung has one of the best hospitals in Korea. It is one of the best hospitals I have seen with excellent facilities and fully prepared to save lives.

``Back home, I am building a 250-bed hospital and I will love to collaborate with them.

``I am sure if they bring their skills to Nigeria, there will be solution to a lot of ailments resulting ultimately in minimal deaths.’’

She added that the hospital, which had gone far in medical research, had high success rates in dreaded cancer ailments and other cases, and would be a plus if they came to Nigeria.

The first lady undertook a tour of the obstetrics and gynaecology ward and asked questions on topics such as stemming cell/organ regeneration or replacement, in vitro fertilisation, heart ailments.

An endocrinologist, Dr Alice Ran, who conducted the tour of the hospital, told the first lady and her entourage that the hospital was founded in 1994, while the school of medicine was opened in 1997.

``Our cancer comprehensive centre which was opened in 2008 is the largest in Asia.

``We went into cardiovascular treatment in 2009. We have 2006 beds and treat more than 8,000 patients daily.

``We have up-to-date machines and equipment like MRIs, robotic surgery, tomotherapy and several others, as a result of our liaison with Samsung group and the hospital aims to be the best by 2020 in 20 areas,’’ she said.

Tan told the gathering that the hospital ``offers our clients the best chance of cure with the least side effect.

``We've trained more than 1,000 doctors in Mongolia and we collaborate with some parts of UAE and the Mayo clinic in the US.’’

NAN reports that the wife of the president had treated more than 300 children and adolescent heart patients both in Nigeria and abroad through the A, Aruera Reachout Foundation, her non-governmental organisation. (NAN)


Source: Leadership