The Federal Government has taken a  step towards establishing a world class medical facility designed to reduce the  huge foreign exchange lost daily through medical tourism.

To actualise this goal, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim  has inaugurated the Board of Trustees of Nigeria Centenary Charity Trust Fund with former military Head of State Gen. Yakubu Gowon as Chairman.

Speaking after the inauguration of the Board,  Gowon said: “Good health is what all of us desire and deserve. Health is a significant component in the fight against poverty for indeed poverty, disease and illiteracy can be said to be related. Celebrating Nigeria by giving back to Nigerians a world class health facility is innovative and welcome.”

“We deserve a centre where every new born child in Nigeria with peculiar health challenges could be cared for in Nigeria. We need these and more. Our Board is to ensure that when the fund is raised from the public for the provision of these health facilities, it will be used judiciously for the benefit of all Nigerians.”

Other members of the BOT include former Secretary General of the Commonwealth, Emeka Anyaoku who would serve Vice Chairman and  former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Ahmadu Ali.

Also in the Board are King A. J Turner; Mrs. Fatima Abubakar;  Mrs. Ekaette Akpabio; Abdulsamad Rabiu;  Austin Ufomba;  Ijeoma Nwaogwugwu; Doyin Abiola; Sam Nwaobasi and Kingsley Esegbue  who would serve as Secretary.

Anyim said that the focus of the Nigeria Centenary Charity Trust Fund is to improve health care in Nigeria and  to complement existing programmes and projects of the Federal and State governments.

BY OKEY NDIRIBE