Equatorial Guinea, Nigeria’s oil-rich south-eastern neighbour, has made a passionate appeal to Nigeria to help deploy its medical doctors to the country’s hospitals as well as to help build and develop its health system.
The Consul General of Equatorial Guinea in Calabar, Juan Manana Mbomio, is seeking collaboration with the Cross River State government to assist in getting the Nigerian central government arrange for technical aid in the area of medical professionals to his country.
Mbomio, who visited Cross River State Governor Ben Ayade recently, said his country was in dire need of Nigerian medical personnel to help in their health sector, and that the country was quite ready to work out a bilateral agreement in that direction.
The diplomat from the former Spanish colony, but which had since joined the French CFA Francs currency zone, spoke through an interpreter, saying the call on Nigeria to provide medical professionals had become imperative because his country was in dire need of medical doctors to help energise the health sector in Equatorial Guinea.
He noted with satisfaction the level of professionalism exhibited by Nigerian medical doctors while in the country, and said that he was in Cross River to see the re-enactment of the bilateral agreement between Nigerian and Equatorial Guinea, so as to the bring back doctors to their country.
In his words: “Not quite long, some medical doctors were brought to our country under a bilateral agreement as technical aids, but for a while now, we have not had such a privilege of hosting such professionals; and I’m pleading that you use your good office to ensure that we enjoy that once again.”
He lauded the dynamism of Governor Ayade, which he noted had brought unprecedented investments into the state within a short period, adding that in no distant time Cross River State would be completely transformed given the volume of investments it had attracted.
Meanwhile, Governor Ayade promised to ensure that “the bilateral talk goes smoothly and make the technical aid possible.”
He also said the state was ready to deploy some of its medical doctors to the Republic of Equatorial Guinea, to boost its medical needs, following an appeal presented to him by the Consul General of the country to Nigeria, Juan Manana Mbomio.
Governor Ayade, while receiving the Equatorial Guinean Consul General assured the diplomat that his request would be given utmost acceleration, because of the decades of outstanding relationship with the country; and owing to the fact that healthcare was very critical to human existence.
He said that some of the best hands in the sector would be selected and deployed to the country, as soon as possible, to assist the country under technical aid programme.
“I promise to deploy some of the best hands (in our health sector) to your country because Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea have very close ties. In fact, we are blood brothers, and we must work together to promote that healthy relationship and be our brother’s keepers,” said Governor Ayade.
He commend the warm relationship that has existed between the two countries over the years, and prayed that the same fellowship be extended to his administration, as he remains committed to ensure that he promotes healthy relationship and collaboration in all spheres of life.
Source: Thisday