Nigeria (Commonwealth Union)_ President Muhammadu Buhari opened the Skipper Eye-Q Super Specialty Eye Hospital in Abuja, claiming that it aims to reduce medical tourism. During the inauguration, Buhari was represented by Goodluck Opiah, the Minister of State for Education. He stated that it was encouraging to see that the hospital, which was inaugurated in Lagos in 2017, considered it essential to construct a third facility in Abuja with cutting-edge equipment and high-quality eye treatments.
The president stated that the eyes are vital organs that require special attention and preservation. According to him, the eyes act as the body’s window and perform several roles. Moreover, good eyesight contributes to healthy brain function, improved cognitive and psychomotor skills, and a higher quality of life. Earlier, the hospital’s founder, Dr. Ajay Sharma, stated that the hospital’s mission was to cure visually impaired patients and those with various eye diseases. He also noted that they operate around 37 hospitals in India and Nigeria, and they have already treated over 7.5 million patients and performed over 600,000 procedures.
Buhari noted that this world-class hospital with branches in other countries has thus far successfully performed 1,500 cataract procedures, 4,500 glaucoma surgeries, 2,000 retina surgeries, and other eye-related surgeries in Nigeria. He added, “It is my belief that with the establishment of this state-of-the-art healthcare outfit, the frequency of medical tourism outside Nigeria and its attendant foreign exchange resources will be reduced as patients will receive quality medical attention in Nigeria.”
In addition, India’s High Commissioner to Nigeria, Shri Balasubramanian, stated that he was pleased to see Indian influence in Nigeria’s healthcare industry. According to him, there are other hospitals specializing in eye treatment in Nigeria. One is Operating Chamber; the other is India Eye Care Foundation; and Skipper is unquestionably the crowning achievement in this specific collaboration between India and Nigeria.
