The 500-bed world-class medical facility being built in Abuja by the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) will still commence operations in May 2025 as it is 60% completed, Mariya Mahmoud, Minister of State, Federal Capital Territory, (FCT) said on Thursday.
The minister who stated this during a site tour of the state-of-the-art facility in Abuja also pledged to provide the necessary support for the successful completion and operation of the centre to reverse medical tourism.
Mahmoud noted that the partnership between the African Export-Import Bank and Kings College Hospital London to establish the 170-bed hospital was a testament to the commitment to advancing clinical care, training, and research in speciality areas such as oncology, cardiovascular services, haematology, diagnostics, and general medical services.
The minister further added; “The potential impact of this initiative in reversing medical tourism and reducing healthcare worker migration is commendable.
“I am encouraged by the prospect of over 1000 workers being employed to support the hospital’s operations.
“Therefore, I am fully committed to ensuring that the Federal Capital Territory Administration provides the necessary support for the successful establishment and operation of the African Medical Center of Excellence.
“We are happy to see, that the 6.5 hectares of land, which was donated by the Federal Capital Territory Administration, on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria, as part of the host country agreement, has been developed to accommodate this hospital”.
While conducting the minister round the project, Brian Deaver, the Chief Executive Officer, African Medical Center of Excellence, commended the FCT Administration for the strategic partnership.
He used the occasion to inform the minister that the management staff of the medical centre are looking forward to further contributions of the Administration to improvement in the management of non-communicable diseases in the territory.
Deaver stressed that the potential benefits of the location of this hospital in Abuja is significant, just as he expressed confidence that the partnership would yield positive outcomes for the healthcare sector in the region.
Also speaking, Benedict Oramah, president and chairman of the board of directors, the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), expressed delight that AFC had joined the African Development Bank (AfDB) as a strategic partner on the project to address the problems with the continent’s healthcare infrastructure.
It would be recalled that the visionary 500-bed medical health facility is currently being developed by Africa Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), the leading trade finance bank for Africa, in partnership with King’s College Hospital, London (KCH),” AFC said.
“The AMCE initiative heralds a revolution in healthcare in West Africa. It aims to turn the tide of medical tourism away from the continent by building the first in a series of world-class medical centres of excellence in Africa, thus providing widespread access to critical health care in the region.
“The AMCE aims to reduce this gap by creating approximately 3,000 jobs during construction and operational phases, employing over 200 people, and offering training opportunities for doctors and nurses.
The facility will provide state-of-the-art care to over 350,000 patients in Nigeria and other African countries within its first five years of operation. Additionally, it aims to attract talent back to the ecosystem on the continent, providing better access to much-needed healthcare.”
