HOPE FOR CANCER TREATMENT AS NSIA TAKES OVER ENUGU STATE DIAGNOSTIC CENTER
REPORTER: OKECHUKWU EZEONA
Enugu State Government has transfered the state Diagnostic Center to the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority NSIA.
At the event in Enugu, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi explained that the transfer was for rehabilitation, upgrading and re-operationalization.
The Diagnostic Centre, was built by the former Governor Sullivan led government but not put into use until he left office.
However, it was used as one of the Isolation Centres during the prevalence of COVID-19 pandemic in Enugu State.
According to Governor Ugwuanyi, the transfer of the Enugu State Diagnostic Centre is a strategic partnership between the state government and the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority for the delivery of diagnostic and oncology Cancer services to the people of the state and beyond.
Governor Ugwuanyi said that the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority, NSIA, had been breaking grounds in the tertiary health care among other things, and that the incorporation of the Authority had been one of the most impactful legacies of the federal government.
He pointed out that with his administration’s commitment to deliver quality healthcare services to the people, the partnership with NSIA had the propensity to engender medical tourism to Enugu State, stem the tide of avoidable deaths and capital flight occasioned by Nigerians seeking quality healthcare services overseas.
In a remark, the Chairman, Board of Directors of NSIA, represented by a board member, Dr. Ogechi Paschal-Ejiogu, emphasized that the objective of the Authority was to elevate the center to world class status, using state of the art equipment, so that both patient and nearby hospitals would be supported with accurate and timely medical results regarding health conditions.
Also, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NSIA, Mr. Aminu Umar-Sadiq, announced that the organization sought to develop solution, and had invested over twenty million dollars in three flagship projects,: the Lagos Cancer Center, Kano Diagnostic Center, and Umuahia Diagnostic Center.
In a goodwill message, the Enugu State Governor-elect, Mr. Peter Mba, represented by his deputy, Mr. Ifeanyi Ossai, noted that Enugu is a right and proper state to locate the center, as it hosts the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, National Orthopedic Hospital, Enugu State University Teaching Hospital, and has a reservoir of skills to leverage on to operationalize the facility.
Earlier in a welcome address, the Deputy Governor of Enugu State, Mrs. Cecelia Ezeilo, pointed out that agreement to transfer the diagnostic facility followed due process, and approval from the State Executive Council.
The event featured the Launch of EquiLease Systems Limited, which NSIA engaged to manage the Diagnostic Centre.
EDITED BY CHUKWUBUIKE MADU
