Wike, Ehanire inaugurate N25.9b cancer centre

By Mike Odiegwu, Port HarcourtRivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike and the Minister of Health Dr Osagie Ehanire have inaugurated the N25.9 billion Dr Peter Odili Cancer and Cardiovascular Disease Diagnostic and Treatment Centre in Port Harcourt.Wike said the Cancer and Cardiovascular treatment centre, which would offer advanced health care services such as chemotherapy and nuclear medicine were expected to be completed within the next 14 months.While speaking at the foundation-laying of the centre at Rumuokwuta Town yesterday, the governor maintained that despite the prevailing insecurity and economic problems plaguing Nigeria, his administration had sustained its project delivery.He said because Rivers people stood in support of his enthronement as governor in 2015 and in 2019 against detractors, he vowed to give the best infrastructure to the state and its people.On the rationale for naming the centre after former Rivers State Governor Peter Odili, he declared that but for Dr Odili, an Ikwerre man would not have become governor of the state.Read Also;Wike threatens to dethrone Rivers traditional rulersWike said it was better to honour a man who had contributed immensely in the state while he is alive.He said: I have performed. So, when you hear Dr Odili is a bad man; it is because he said Ikwerre man will be governor. Now we are governor, must we not thank him'Also during the inauguration of the Mother and Child Hospital at Rumuomasi Town, Wike said it was sad that medical doctors had shown less capacity in managing most health facilities in the country.He said such medical officers were appointed as heads of those facilities; collect money for services rendered but were still unable to maintain the equipment and worst still leave the vicinity unkempt.He challenged medical doctors to be more responsible in maintaining the public health care facilities instead of allowing the investment to waste.Dr Ehanire, who commended Wike for the project said on completion, cancer and cardiovascular treatment centre would augment the assets available to treat No-communicable Diseases (NCDS), and add great value to efforts to reduce NCD prevalence in the country.Dr Ehanire commended Wike for his vision and achievement in the health sector, saying it showed his determination and interest to add value to the health sector.On behalf of his family, Odili commended Wike for considering him worthy of honour.He said the Wike administration invested massively in the training of health personnel and currently sponsoring 490 medical students on state scholarship at the PAMO University of Medical Sciences.Rivers State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Princewill Chike said the Cancer and Cardiovascular Disease Treatment was a three-storey building facility that would also have a helipad for emergency cases.He said the centre would be equipped with modern medical equipment that could respond to every cancer and cardiovascular concerns within the country and overseas.On the Mother and Child Hospital, Prof. Chike said the 132-bed hospital had 50 delivery rooms, six modular operating theatres, Invitro fertilisation equipment, Fluoroscopic equipment and Mammography equipment.
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