The Enugu State Governor RT Hon Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, is set to handover Enugu Medical Diagnostic Center to the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA)
on Tuesday. This marks the start of the first phase of NSIA’s healthcare expansion programme, which will see the diagnostic centre upgraded to a comprehensive diagnostic and oncology (cancer) treatment centre. The NSIA’s specialty equipment leasing company, Equilease Systems Limited, will provide the medical diagnostic equipment required for the upgrade and enable the centre to provide oncology and other services. Equilease will also be responsible for equipping other centres under the healthcare expansion programme using a lease arrangement.
According to the Commissioner for Health, Enugu State, Dr Emmanuel Ikechukwu Obi, the transfer of the diagnostic centre to NSIA and the launch of Equilease Systems Ltd signify the beginning of the first phase of NSIA’s healthcare expansion programme. The first phase will involve the development, construction and operationalisation of 23 new modern medical diagnostic centres of excellence, two oncology centres and six catheterisation laboratories across Nigeria. The Enugu Medical Diagnostic Centre will be the first centre to be operationalised in this phase, serving as the pivotal centre in the South East zone for providing comprehensive medical, diagnostic and cancer treatment services to the people of Enugu State and beyond.
The collaboration between Enugu State and NSIA is aimed at enhancing the quality of healthcare services in the state and improving access to modern medical facilities. The transfer of the diagnostic centre to NSIA is expected to bring about significant improvements in diagnostic and oncology services in the state, and reduce the need for patients to travel outside the state for such services.
Governor Ugwuanyi has shown a commitment to improving healthcare delivery in Enugu State, and the collaboration with NSIA is a testament to this commitment. The upgraded Enugu Medical Diagnostic Centre will undoubtedly play a critical role in improving access to quality healthcare services, and it is expected to set a benchmark for the other medical centres to be established under NSIA’s healthcare expansion programme. This development is a significant step towards achieving the goal of providing quality healthcare services to all Nigerians, regardless of their location or socio-economic status.