FG To Constructs 10 Oncology, Diagnostic Centres In Nigeria 

By; Mohammed Kawu, Bauchi

The Federal Government is embarking on the construction and equipping of ten Oncology and Diagnostic Centres across the country to renew the hope of citizens by ensuring a guaranteed improvement in steering the nation’s healthcare facilities to a world-class level through the provision of state-of-the-art medical facilities.

The Chief Medical Director of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH) Bauchi, Prof. Yusuf Bara Jibrin commended this singular efforts of the Tinubu-led Federal Government, describing it as unprecedented in the history of the country’s health sector.

“Today, we stand on the tip of a new era for healthcare in Bauchi State. With the rare privilege of having a Governor who deeply values healthcare, alongside a passionate Hon. Minister of Health and the MD of NSIA, all of them hailing from Bauchi State, we are presented with a unique opportunity to elevate our healthcare landscape”.

Prof. Yusuf Bara Jibrin Aminu Umar-Sadiq who was speaking during the groundbreaking ceremony for Ten Oncology and diagnosis centers across the country, held in ATBU teaching hospital Friday, said “We are ready to seize this moment and drive significant progress in our healthcare sector, transforming the lives of our citizens and setting new standards in medical excellence”.

He further stated, “What we are witnessing today is a milestone towards achieving an enviable pedestal in healthcare delivery in Nigeria. It is our hope and prayer that the projects will be executed diligently to enable the citizens to reap the desired benefits.

The CMD explained that ATBU Teaching Hospital, Bauchi, specifically is going to have an advanced Diagnostic center with a Cardiac catheterization Laboratory that will, on completion, greatly improve and enhance healthcare delivery in terms of the provision of clinical services, training, and research.

At present, ATBU Teaching Hospital, Bauchi, through collaboration with Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, has a functional Molecular, Genetic Infectious Diseases Laboratory accredited by the NCDC to diagnose COVID-19, Lassa Fever, and other Infectious Diseases.

According to him, the advanced laboratory will therefore significantly increase the capacity of the Hospital in various areas, including research, and called on the Federal Government and other development partners, both within and outside the country, to explore more opportunities for partnership and collaboration to enhance and improve healthcare service delivery in Nigeria.

He explained that the National Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) through its wholly owned healthcare service delivery subsidiary, Medical Advanced Services Limited (Medserve), is undertaking an Oncology, Diagnostics and Catheterisation Laboratory Expansion Programme with the objective of establishing 23 diagnostic centres, 3 oncology centres and 7 catheterization laboratories equitably distributed across Nigeria’s 6 geopolitical zones and the FCT.

‘To implement the Programme, Medserve is leveraging the expertise NSIA has garnered from establishing and operating 3 healthcare facilities viz: an advanced Oncology centre in Lagos and 2 modern diagnostics centres in Kano and Abia states, co-located within the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (“AKTH”) and the Federal Medical Centre Umuahia (“FMCU”) respectively”.

“One of the Programme’s key imperatives is to ensure equitable distribution of the centres and access to healthcare services across the 6 geo-political zones and the FCT. Thus, at the completion of Phases 1 and 2, Medserve aims to have developed: Four (4) diagnostic centres in each geo-political zone (existing centres in Abia and Kano inclusive) and one (1) in the FCT leading to a total of 25 diagnostic centres”

“The Programme’s Significant Development Impact Aside from the envisaged financial returns to NSIA, is expected to deliver substantial socio-economic impact to Nigeria including: Improved screening and diagnostics for communicable and non-communicable diseases
Reduced mortality rates and improved outcomes for non-communicable diseases, including cancer”

About The Author

Editor

See author's posts