In his efforts to put an end to medical tourism, which Nigerians reportedly spend between $1.5 billion to $2 billion on annually, Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, will on Monday, July 15 and Tuesday, July 16 officially inaugurate Equity Specialist Clinic & Diagnostic Centre, a subsidiary of his Equity Health Group, located in Lekki area of Lagos State.
A statement by Otunba Moses Olafare, the Director, Media and Public Affairs at Ooni’s Palace, said this first of its kind medical conglomerate, which opened to public on Monday, July 1, 2024, is a pioneering healthcare service provider established by the foremost African monarch to transform the landscape of healthcare delivery.
He said the aim of setting up the medical conglomerate was to provide accessible, high quality medical services globally, as well as fostering wellness and medical excellence within communities across Africa.
According to Olafare, Oba Ogunwusi emphasised that premium must be placed on humanity and life in particular by ensuring no patient would be denied qualitative healthcare due to financial constraints, especially in time of emergencies.
“This development is inspired by the Ife monarch’s involvement and immeasurable investment in Nigeria’s health sector since becoming the Arole Oduduwa, particularly as demonstrated during the COVID-19 pandemic that ravaged the world in the year 2020, which saw him distribute over 100 hundred motorised fumigation vehicles and equipments across the length and breath of Nigeria that cost him a whooping hundreds of millions of Naira as he constituted a team of professionals and brought together reputable medical research outfits, laboratories and other institutions to ensure that Nigerians are safe,” Olafare said.
Speaking on the motivation for setting up the healthcare conglomerate via a videocast from his palace at Ile-Ife, Ooni said: “The last pandemic drew my attention to a lot of untapped medical potentials of we black people, especially here on the throne of Oduduwa. These stuffs, herbs and its likes, are what saved us from experiencing major challenges faced by most developed countries when no one, regardless of riches or status, could travel to seek medical attention abroad.”
The monarch explained how he had to constitute a team of scholars, particularly in the medical profession and veterans in the business and practice of ancient herbal and alternative medicine who brainstormed on exploiting the best in African herbal medicine, and how this led to the discovery of potent solutions through which his team combated and defeated the pandemic were discovered.
“I must hail the collaboration with the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti; National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRID) and frontline medical research institutions in the country which brought us this far.
“I remember developing an initiative, called ‘Pan African Foundation for Indigenous Medical Research and Development (PAFIMERD)’ in 2020 during the celebration of African Traditional Medicine Day. All these activities have now snowballed into Equity Health Group; an international hospital and diagnostic centre with a lot of interlinked arms of medical solution including drug manufacturing, pharmaceuticals and vaccine production among others. The best part of it is that this facility will source its ingredients locally, thereby strengthening the Naira while boosting the country’s productivity,” Ooni said.
Oba Ogunwusi noted that Equity Health Group stands at the forefront of healthcare innovation, encompassing a diverse portfolio of subsidiaries. The Arole Oduduwa stated that through these subsidiaries, he plans to complement government’s efforts in revolutionising healthcare delivery and promote well-being of Nigerians globally.
“At Equity Health Group, we believe in patient-centered care, innovation and integrity.
Our watchword is to dignify human life by attending to all emergencies immediately regardless of the patient’s financial status. We will work to save lives first and not asking for papers or money from a dying patient,” he added.
Ooni further stated that he partnered with a young and visionary entrepreneur, Dozy Mmobuosi, who has a very clear and similar vision to take the black race out of over-dependence on the western world for medicine and healthcare, stressing that efforts were being combined to make Equity Health Group a world-class medical institution and diagnostic centre of international standard across Africa.
“I am pleased to inform you that the company has three subsidiaries. The first is the Equity Specialist Hospital and Diagnostic Centre; a comprehensive hospital and diagnostic service that focuses on advanced medical technology and personalised care. Presently, it is situated in Lagos State, with plans for expansion to other parts of the country and the United Kingdom. The second arm is the Equity Pharmaceuticals; a company that will leverage innovative technology to provide quality pharmaceutical products and services. The last but not the least is the Equity Vaccine Laboratories; an arm that focuses on research and development of vaccines for global health security. With this, we aim to pioneer vaccines to tackle pressing global health challenges and ensure a safer future for all.
“In actualising the purpose of this outfit, we shall bring on board our higher institutions of learning, particularly the medical arms of reputable universities, including the Ojaja University, Eyenkorin, Kwara State which I own. This will cement the ‘town and gown’ relationship, thereby enhancing the productivity of our graduates,” the monarch said.
Oba Ogunwusi, who is the Co-Chairman, National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria (NCTRN ), added that the advancement in health facilities in the country, especially with the involvement of private sector like the Equity Health Group, will provide a convenient spot for Nigerians to abolish the culture of foreign medical tourism.
“Aside from the provision of unequalled medical services for Nigerians in line with best global practice, Equity Health Group is structured to actively participate in global medical research, especially in the area of vaccine production and development to safeguard global health. As the giant of Africa, Nigeria should be at the forefront of vital global medical conversations like the development of vaccines against malaria disease upon which we cannot afford to be dependent on the western world.
“While I am neither a medical doctor nor a pharmacist, I passionately believe that we have what it takes to change the narrative of over dependence on medical tourism to the developed countries. Beyond the area of research, Africa and indeed Nigeria can be a major powerbroker in the global pharmaceutical and medical industry,” he stated.
