By Becky John
The Finland Ambassador to Nigeria, Mrs Pirjo Soumela-Chowdhury, on Monday disclosed the Finnish government’s plan to support the Federal Government in combating Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs). Suomela-Chowdhury told the newsmen in Lagos that Finnish medical experts were prepared to work closely with Nigeria in the treatment of cardiovascular and cancerous diseases.
“Finland will soon begin to look at the possibility of cooperating more with Nigeria in the area of health sector development.
“And one sure area the Finnish government will be cooperating with Nigeria is in the area of NCDs management.
“In the past decades, Finland had had these health problems and had to really focus on its eradication.
“Finland today has top expertise in Non-Communicable Diseases management, which basically has to do with cardiovascular and cancer related diseases.
“So, Finland today has the equipment, expertise, personnel and international network with which to support Nigeria in combating these diseases,’’ she said.
The Envoy said that there were currently some Finnish health experts in Nigeria who were working in areas of maternal and child health as well as dental technology.
Suomela-Chowdhury, who expressed satisfaction with the current level of relations between both countries, said that there was a growing awareness among Finish companies on the investment opportunities in Nigeria. The ambassador said that her Embassy was working hard at fast-tracking a health sector development partnership between both countries.
“There are today a lot of potential in Nigeria that Finish medical experts would want to take advantage of,’’ she said.
