India to partner Nigeria in boosting healthcare

The Nigeria India Business Council (NIBC), on Tuesday reiterated India’s plan to partner with Nigeria through investment in the nation’s primary healthcare sector.

Secretary-General of NIBC in India Rekha Sharma disclosed this on behalf of the NIBC delegation while briefing newsmen at the India trade mission to Nigeria/Nigeria-India business forum in Abuja.

The forum with the theme: “Expanding trade and investment opportunities between Nigeria and Nigeria” was oganised by NIBC through collaboration with the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Agriculture (NACCIMA).

Sharma said, “The health sector is one I see as significant for Nigeria in the business concept, it offers a huge opportunity for both sides of the businesses.

“As NIBC, we just wanted to bring the joint venture partners, in terms of their skills development for the benefit of the two countries, like exchange of doctors.

“We just wanted to bring manufacturing partners for the production of medical equipment and other hospital services here, so that the locals can get educated and train for the treatment.

“I see lots of opportunities in the production of medicines and other aspects like the production of syringes and related medical devices.

“There are lots of opportunities and I see the healthcare sector as a huge investment opportunity; as a Council, we are committed to bringing together the joint venture partners and both can grow as business leaders.”
She said the initiative to establish the primary healthcare centres was conceived by the EXIM Bank of India to bring power to the well-being of the citizenry.

“We established 221 Primary Healthcare Centres in Kaduna, out of the 221 that have been done. Solar-Power has been provided to supply electricity night and day.

“The African Development Bank (AfDB) group initiative was tailored to promote the value chain, which is power, water, sanitation, IT, franchising and insurance.

“So, how to integrate those six elements is the initiative by African Development Bank and IDB that is investing over 10 billion USD and Nigeria alone has over 9000 primary healthcare centres.

“Plans are on to give proof of concept for about 25 primary healthcare centres and all these actions will be integrated and inaugurated in the first week of April 2024.

“So, that this programme can be launched once and for all and the whole of Africa; it is the dream of the African government to have primary healthcare centres connected to huge healthcare centres,” she added.