Nigeria Gets Boost in Healthcare with American Hospital Dubai’s Landmark Entry

Mary Nnah

In a landmark move, American Hospital Dubai has launched its first representative office in Africa, right in the heart of Lagos.

This initiative promises to transform healthcare in Nigeria, making it easier and more convenient for individuals to access world-class medical care in Dubai.

Chairman of American Hospital Dubai-Nigeria Limited, Mahmoud Harbaji, announced at the Africa Launch Event in Lagos, on Monday, that the newly established world-class representative office in Victoria Island will bridge the gap between American Hospital Dubai and Nigerian patients.

This milestone marks the hospital’s first representative office in Africa, strategically located in Lagos to facilitate seamless access to quality healthcare services for local communities.

Harbaji attested that he has always recognised Nigeria’s potential and importance within Africa. Together, American Hospital Dubai (AHD) through its representative office in Lagos can positively impact the health and well-being of Nigerians.

The Consul General of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in Nigeria, Dr. Abdullah Al-mandoos, expressed his gratitude to President Ahmed Bola Tinubu and Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State for their unwavering support in facilitating the success of their initiatives.

He also commended the invaluable contributions of his colleague, Mr. Sherif, CEO of the American Hospital Dubai Group, stating that their collective efforts have brought to fruition the plans and visions they had conceptualised since 2019.

On his part, Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, reminisced about his initial in-depth discussion with Dr. Al-Mandoos, where they explored potential collaborative initiatives between the UAE, Lagos, and Nigeria to bolster the healthcare sector. However, he noted that the COVID-19 pandemic temporarily hindered their progress.

He further stated that, as a representative of Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, he was echoing the governor’s sentiment in affirming that the establishment of a representative office marks a significant and promising first step. 

Prof. Abayomi recalled that during a meeting with the American Hospital Dubai team, Governor Sanwo-Olu expressed his enthusiasm for the initiative, stating, “Lagos warmly welcomes this endeavor. We aim to make medical interventions in Dubai as seamless, safe, and hassle-free as possible for Lagosians, with additional discounts available through the office.”

The governor also highlighted Lagos’ comprehensive development strategy, as outlined in the Lagos State Development Plan (LSDP) 2052, a 30-year roadmap for the state’s growth.

Prof. Abayomi noted that Lagos State’s GDP has significantly increased from N27 trillion to nearly N45 trillion since the beginning of Governor Sanwo-Olu’s first term, a remarkable achievement for any African governed space.

He emphasized that Lagos, with its 35 major general hospitals catering to over 1,000 patients daily, requires specialized hospitals for complex procedures like neurosurgery, cancer treatment, and kidney transplants.

According to him, as a hub of commerce, Lagos recognises healthcare as a vital component of its GDP. Consequently, the government is committed to providing universal healthcare coverage (UHC) for its citizens.

Notably, Lagos has been ranked the 8th city in Africa for its exceptional healthcare services, following Cape Town, Johannesburg, Pretoria, Nairobi, Tunis, and Cairo”, he added.

Prof. Abayomi commended American Hospital Dubai-Nigeria Limited and Governor Sanwo-Olu for their collaborative efforts in making this initiative a success.

The Lagos representative office of the AHD would function as an embassy for patients in Nigeria with intent to access care from the Dubai -based facility.

His words; “The expansion into Nigeria, which demonstrates the facility’s commitment to invest in Nigeria, is aimed to make accessing care in Dubai very seamless and convenient.

“Many hospitals take patients from Nigeria but very few are prepared to commit energy and resources developing that business,” said Tonye Princewill, a member of the Board, American Hospital Dubai -Nigeria Limited.

“For those people who want to go to AHD, instead of going online making searches/enquiries they can physically come to the Lagos representative office in Victoria Island where officials talk to them and make their trip to Dubai very much easier from visas to flights to accommodation.

“Already, they have approved a second office in Abuja and they’ve asked us to get space for a diagnostic centre in Lagos”.

The launch event attracted top government officials, embassy staff, politicians, traditional rulers, including the Permanent Secretary at the Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr. Olusegun Ogboye, Mr. Dakuku Peterside, a former member of the House of Representatives, a veteran Nigerian actress, director, and businesswoman, Joke Silva, among many others.