Delta State Executive Council (EXCO) has approved the transfer of the General Hospital in Otor-Udu to the Federal Ministry of Health for the establishment of a Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Ovwian in Udu Local Government Area of the state.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Joseph Onojaeme, disclosed this while briefing journalists on some of the far-reaching decisions reached in the health sector during the State EXCO meeting presided over by Governor Sheriff Oborevwori.
Dr. Onojaeme, while recalling that the Federal Government had approved the establishment of a Federal Medical Centre at Ovwian, disclosed that the Exco ratified Governor Oborevwori’s earlier approval for the transfer of the General Hospital, Otor-Udu, to the Federal Government to facilitate the establishment of the medical centre.
He noted that the decision of the Federal Government to establish a Federal Medical Centre at Owvian in Udu Local Government Area was a healthy and commendable development for the people and residents of Udu and environs.
He said: "Sometime back, the Federal Government approved the establishment of a Federal Medical Centre at Ovwian; so, we are giving them the Otor-Udu General Hospital, which is to be handed over to the Federal Ministry of Health.
"The establishment of a Federal Medical Centre at Ovwian is a good development because Udu and environs need a specialist health centre to complement what we have already given at the Central Hospital, Warri".
According to him, Exco also approved the procurement and installation of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machines at Asaba Specialist Hospital, Central Hospital Warri, and the Delta State University Teaching Hospital, Oghara, in a strategic move to expand the frontiers of healthcare delivery in the state.
"Also, Exco graciously approved the procurement of three Magnetic Resonance Imaging scan machines. These machines are non-invasive machines that answer a lot of clinical questions, ranging from excellent prostate imaging, degenerating spine injuries, brain and other soft tissue imaging.
"Before now, we didn't have a functioning MRI scan machine in the state. And the feature of this one that we are purchasing is a 1.5 Tesla MRI scan machine that is helium-free.
"The reason the one we have before now did not stand the test of time is because it is Helium-dependent, and the money to refill helium is almost the amount to purchase a new one.
"So, this one is good for the state, and we went for product product-specific Siemens German machine. It is good, it is going to last the state, and it came with a two-year maintenance warranty. So, it is a good one for the state," the Commissioner said.
Before the procurement of the MRI scan machines, he said, a lot of patients in the state were being referred to UBTH and LUTH, stressing that with the purchase of MRI machines, some of all the high-end imaging would be done in the state.
