Obasanjo undergoes health check in Yenagoa as part of campaign against expensive medical tourism

FORMER president Chief Olusegun Obasanjo has undergone a private health check in Bayelsa State and published the results as part of a campaign against the ongoing habit of Nigerian politicians travelling abroad for medical treatment.

Known as health tourism, Nigeria is said to be spending $1bn a year on the practise of politicians and public officials going abroad for medical treatment. President Muhammadu Buhari is currently in the UK on a 10-day holiday where he is said to be receiving medical treatment from his London doctors.

Speaking in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, Chief Obasanjo revealed that doctors at the Bayelsa Specialist Hospital and state-owned Diagnostics Centre, had given him a clean bill of health after undergoing a five-hour medical check-up at both medical facilities. He added that results of the tests carried out on him, aligned with those previously conducted by his doctors in Atlanta in the US.

According to Chief Obasanjo, all he was charged was N350,000 for the tests as opposed to the $25,000 (N9m), he would usually spend on his medicals in the US. He added that there was no need for Nigerians to fly abroad for medical check-ups.

Chief Obasanjo said: “Last time, I was here in February, I did say that I would want to come and patronise the facilities because I was impressed with what I saw then. Having made that promise, I had to fulfil it, I started last night with the gadgets l had to wear to sleep to check my blood pressure and this morning, l started with blood and urine tests.

“I went through the whole process of heart tests and they looked at other internal organs such as kidneys, liver, spleen and all the internal organs. Eventually, l had a semi-sleep in the MRI where my brain was examined and it may be of interest to you to know that the doctor said my head is correct."

He pointed out that wherever there are practices, Nigerians should patronise them, adding that the standard of the facilities in Yenagoa could be used by all Nigerians. Chief Obasanjo pointed out that there is no need for a Nigerian to say he is going to Dubai, the UK or US for medical checkups.

“I went through all the medical checks that I would normally have gone through anywhere else including the eye, mouth and head and the doctor showed me what my brains looked like. When I looked, he said my brain is clean and clear and I said, it means my head is correct.

"Not only that, the cost is reasonable and the services were superb. So, what people were going to Dubai, India, America, UK, Saudi Arabia for is here in Bayelsa State,” Chief Obasanjo noted.