Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State has inaugurated the Sun Medical Diagnostic Centre, an ultra-modern diagnostic centre, located within the premises of the General Hospital in Onitsha.
Performing the ceremony in Onitsha, Governor Obiano expressed optimism that the centre would serve as a viable alternative to Nigerians who travel overseas in search of superior medical diagnosis as it is fully equipped with the latest facilities in modern medical research.
As part of the efforts to drive home the need for proper diagnosis of ailments before treatment, the governor announced that the Sun Medical Diagnostic Center would provide a free diagnosis to people between Monday and Friday next week and urged Onitsha residents to take advantage of the opportunity to attend to their medical needs.
The governor who also used the opportunity to formally inaugurate the renovation and reconstruction of the Onitsha General Hospital further explained that on completion, the hospital would among other things, house specialist areas in surgery, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics and internal medicine, saying that it would also accommodate standard accident and emergency units with an airfield for the landing of helicopters to ensure a speedy movement of patients in and out of the hospital.
According to him, also being planned are quarters for all categories of health workers, a pharmaceutical block and a laboratory as well as some isolation wards for contagious medical cases. The governor explained that the project was in fulfillment of his campaign promise to evolve a structured health system that would pave the way for medical tourism in the state and discourage Nigerians from seeking medical help overseas.
Governor Obiano further explained that the General Hospitals in Ekwulobia and Enugu Ukwu would also be developed in a similar way to serve the people of Anambra South and Central respectively while the ongoing renovation work on all the 37 general hospitals in the state would be accelerated to ensure completion on schedule.
The governor also restated the resolve of his administration to entrench a standard medical practice in the state using the latest technology and specialist skills supported by a public-private partnership arrangement that would be driven by experts in properly defined medical practice.
He also noted that a primary health agency that had just been signed into law would help to reposition and revitalize all primary health centers across the state while a legal framework would soon be put in place to rid the state of quacks.
Also speaking at the ceremony, the Anambra State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Joseph Akabuike explained that when fully renovated, the Onitsha General Hospital would serve as a training center for house-officers and resident doctors in different areas of medicine.
In his own remarks, the Medical Director of the Sun Medical Diagnostic Center Dr. Paul Ezeukwu said the center has enough capacity to meet the medical examination needs of the people as it enjoys the collaborative partnership of some reputable laboratories in the US and further assured that the center would extend its expertise to other laboratories and hospitals in the state for a more comprehensive coverage.
Dr. Ezeukwu also declared the readiness of his group to partner with the Obiano administration to set up a world class cancer center that would be the first of its kind in the South East of Nigeria and urged fellow indigenes of Anambra State to bring home their investments now that Governor Obiano had created a favourable environment for all.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the construction company that is handling the renovation and construction of Onitsha General Hospital, Prof. Michael Obiefuna noted that Governor Obiano’s determination to upgrade quality health services in Anambra State would help to increase the life expectancy of the people and reverse the neglect of general hospitals.
