On October 9, Aisha Buhari, the wife of President Muhammadu Buhari, revealed she recently fell sick and against all advice, refused to go to London to receive treatment.
Mrs Buhari, while speaking at the stakeholders meeting on Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn Child, Adolescent Health and Nutrition (RMNCAH+N) said that she was recently forced to visit a hospital owned by foreigners when she fell sick.
Mrs Buhari, however said when she fell sick, she was advised to go to London for medical attention, but she declined, opting to use the Aso Rock Clinic, unfortunately the necessary equipment were lacking at the clinic designated for the first family.
The issue of the poor quality of the State House Medical Centre (SHMC) has raged on Nigerian social media. Former spokesman to Goodluck Jonathan, Reno Omokri has chimed in as usual.
Below is a Facebook post he made referring to a graphic created by BudgITng:
"Less money was budgeted for State House Clinic under Dr. Goodluck Jonathan than under President Muhammadu Buhari yet it was better staffed and equipped under Jonathan.
"My family members were admitted there and received the best treatment. Even Dr. Jonathan was a regular there. Anti corruption my foot!"
Nigerian Notch earlier reported that SHMC which currently offers largely free medical services to patients at Ask Rock, is to be commercialised to offer qualitative and efficient services, according to the permanent secretary, State House, Jalal Arabi.
Arabi made the disclosure on Wednesday, October 4, in a press statement issued by Attah Esa, the deputy director of information State House.
He said the commercialisation of the clinic will boost its revenue and augment the appropriation it receives from the government in the quest for a better qualitative service.