Obiano commissions N400m Onitsha Diagnostic Centre 

GOVERNOR Willie Obiano has commissioned the Sun diagnostic centre Onitsha, aimed at bringing treatment of some terminal diseases to the doorstep of Anambra citizens and other surrounding states.

  He described the centre as a comprehensive Medical Laboratory, saying it will be a reference point among other hospitals in the Nigeria.

  While commissioning the projects built in partnership between the Anambra State government and management of the hospital at the General Hospital Onitsha, Obiano said the multi million complex will reduce the urge by Nigerians to seek for medical treatment abroad and even source for treatment of any terminal ailment home. 

  Earlier in his speech, the Medical Director, Sun Medical Lab, Dr Paul Lewis Ezeukwu said some services obtainable include: Automated medical laboratory, tumor marker detection and prostate cancer Detection.

  He said others are GE Digital, CT Scan, Ultra Sound, Digital Mammogram, EKG/ECK with interpretation, Digital Radiologic Imaging, Fertility Hormonal Test, Complete Metabolic Profile and research analysis.

  According to Ezeukwu, experts in medicine and related fields are employed to improve services pointing out that test were sent to the United States any time, but the result are known within six hours.

 He wondered why Nigerian patients still travel abroad, particularly India and Europe to seek for medical treatment while they now offer same services in Onitsha area, stressing that India is still a developing country with unregulated medical service. 

  He identified the challenges affecting health of Nigerians to include: transportation of patients to the laboratory, high cost of treatment, self medication, lack of medical check-up, and poor dieting. 

  He urged Nigerians to be health conscious, and report any ill health sign to the nearest hospital, while watch what they eat. 

  The Medical Director also said that part of their contribution to healthy living include creating awareness and sensitizing the public through radio/TV talks and programmes, churches, banks among others, and will offer one week free medical check up for the public beginning from Monday next week.

   Obiano also used the occasion to flag off the renovation/construction of General Hospital Onitsha yesterday, assuring of government commitment to provide good health to the people.

  He disclosed that governments’ aim is to renovate all the 37 General Hospitals spread across the state, saying that it is in consonance with his campaign promises last year, lamenting that most of the health institutions in the state are not functioning to full capacity.

  He further announced that his administration has initiated Anambra Primary Health Management Agency to manage over 300 primary health care centers across Anambra State, urging that PHC system is at the grass roots in Local Governments. 

  He further said government hospitals receive assistance from the World Health Organisation and other donor agencies, while there is motivation to health workers. 

  “Today General Hospitals now functions 24 hours, with over 300 medical doctors and nurses deployed. There is periodic training for House officers. All PHC centers are under the supervision of Ministry of Health and are functioning properly,” Obiano said, warning that government has moved against quacks that have invaded the medical sector.