Accountant turned politician, Aliyu Betera, is a senior member of the National Assembly representing Biu/Bayo/Kwayakusa/Shani Federal Constituency in Borno state in the House of Representatives. He is not just an ordinary politician but a five time member of the Federal House of Representative going by the last election which he won massively. Consequently, this makes him a very senior ranking member in the green chamber of the Nigerian National Assembly. He is the Chair, House Committee on Appropriation which gives him the leverage to ensure that the entire country benefits from his dexterity as a man of numbers and his contributions to humanity. He was in Maiduguri recently for the commissioning of a unique cancer centre in the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH). He spoke to Sam Kayode on how he got involved in the speedy appropriation of funds to tertiary hospitals to enhance the management of cancer in the country.
What prompted you to do this sir?
Thank you very much, The first time I took over as Chairman appropriation in the Federal House of Representative. The Chief Medical Director (CMD) and other CMD’s nationwide consulted me on the issue of most of our Teaching Hospital and Federal Medical Centres (FMC”S) for me to assist them in providing funds so that they can have cancer management centres, kidney management centres other things to manage the hospitals effectively. So I decided to assist them.
So Its not as if there is a prevalence of cancer in the Northeast of Borno like we have the kidney issue that is the major challenge killing our people?
Actually, what prompted me to concentrate on the cancer centre is my father in-law. The first time I took him to the National Hospital, at the Cancer Centre, I was disappointed. I saw the line up in the National Hospital that the cost of treatment of cancer was quite huge. And that time, they gave us over a million as bills and I saw over one hundred people on the queue. So I decided and said Ok, let me concentrate on the Cancer Centre in the FMC’S and the teaching hospitals. That is what really prompted me to start.
So what is the advantage of this machine over all the others appropriated and supplied elsewhere?
As was said, by the CMD, it’s one in the Sub-Sahara West Africa. We have the best and the other one I think he said is one of the best that is the only one we have in Nigeria.
So after this what next?
Next, we have it all over. We have it in Zaria, Kano, Jos, Enugu, Port Harcourt, Sokoto and Katsina.
Are they up to 20?
No, they are about 13 different machines in the FMC’S and the teaching hospitals.
And more will come in 2023 appropriation?
Insha Allah.
Are you happy with management over the maintenance culture applied to facilities on ground here?
Yah! Actually I have not moved around the hospital yet but with the areas I have seen so far, they are actually doing fine. They are working well and they are maintaining the hospital very well? What I will tell them is to keep up the maintenance culture. You know our challenge in Nigeria is maintenance. You go to our hospitals, our teaching hospitals and FMC’S, some of them are not well maintained but for Professor Ahidjo, I knew him very well when it comes to maintenance.
Cancer is deadly and terminal, are you likely going to intervene in the prices especially for the Nigerian masses who cannot go abroad to seek such sophisticated medical treatments?
Yah! We had a discussion with the CMD on the cost, you know the charges. They need to reduce it to patients so that they can have patients to be treated. You know most patients go abroad for the treatment of cancer because it is very expensive. For me to continue to provide it to them I think they have to reduce the cost. At least let them collect small amount from patients.
Are you satisfied with the Kidney Centre? Have you visited it?
I have visited and i think its Ok.
