Aisha Buhari: New VIP Aso Villa medical centre will end health trips abroad for presidents

Aisha Buhari, wife of the president, says the newly inaugurated VIP wing of the state house medical centre will end health tourism for future presidents.

President Muhammadu Buhari inaugurated the N21 billion presidential wing of the Aso Villa medical centre on Friday.

Aisha said the facility would eliminate the need for Bola Tinubu, the president-elect, and his family to seek medical care overseas when he assumes office.

“They don’t need to go abroad now. They only need to maybe fly in experts to help our people. You know,” she added.

“So, no need for any leader to spend months and months abroad because of health care.”

Aisha said she came up with the idea of the VIP wing six years ago after her husband’s protracted stay abroad for medical treatment. 

She noted that the president’s frequent trips were necessitated by the pressure on the state house medical centre receiving thousands of patients asides the first family.

“I’m quite happy, feeling fulfilled. Though we are leaving but all the same, we thank God the project has come to reality,” she said.

“I have opted for it six years now. I initiated this project idea six years ago when my husband spent three months abroad, consecutively, 90 days. And it shouldn’t be because we have all the experts in Nigeria. We only need a good platform.

“The hospital that is supposed to serve the first family is serving like 35,000 people which is quite much.

“That’s why I insisted we should have a VIP wing within the proximity of the presidential villa.”

The new facility will cater to the medical needs of the president, vice-president, their immediate families and VIPs.

The VIP wing houses several specialized departments, to be staffed by a team of medical professionals, featuring five consultation rooms dedicated to various specialties, including respiratory, cardiology, ophthalmology, ENT, and general consultation.

Additionally, the hospital has a specialized X-ray suite equipped with a digital X-ray machine as well as a diagnostic suite encompassing MRI, CT scan, and endoscopy facilities.

Patients and visitors have access to a healing garden, designed to foster healing, relaxation, and enhancement of overall well-being.

The facility also boasts of a catheterization laboratory, two operating rooms for regular procedures, and special procedures such as organ transplants.