Kogi State Governor Alhaji Yahaya Bello says the state Reference Hospital, Okene when completed will significantly address medical tourism in the North Central region and Nigeria at large.

Governor Bello stated this during an inspection of the newly built state of the art tertiary health facility in Okene.

He noted that medical tourism was draining the economy of the nation and that several lives were been lost due ailments that could have been treated in the country.

According to him, Government had developed a model to ensure that the facility is sustainable and made affordable to Nigerians seeking advance medical care.

He stressed that the comprehensive model which is ninety-five completed would efficiently help to run all health facilities across the state and engage adequate staff to man the facilities.

According to the Governor, the reference hospital would go a long way to boost healthcare delivery at the tertiary level.

The Governor added that the Reference Hospital would be among several landmark projects by his administration to be commissioned by President Muhammadu Buhari soon.

Earlier, Governor Yahaya Bello who inspected the Agassa and Ozuri Gully Reclamation Projects expressed delight at the quality of work done by the contractors.

He stressed that his administration through the Kogi NEWMAP invested in the gully reclamation projects in the communities to prevent further washing away of the soil by erosion with negative consequences to the people.

The Governor also inspected the new official palace of Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, road projects, SDG hospital among others.

In the Governor’s entourage were the Commissioner for Environment, Chief Victor Adewale Omofaiye, as well as the State Project Coordinator of NEEMAP, Barr. Ladi Ahmed Jatto and other State Government officials.