The Chief Medical Director of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Prof. Joseph Ugboaja, has urged healthcare workers to ensure proper handling and maintenance of medical equipment to guarantee effective service delivery and long-term sustainability.
Ugboaja made the call during the commissioning and handover ceremony of a newly installed 1.5 Tesla Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) system at the hospital’s Radiology Department in Nnewi, Anambra State.
The MRI system was donated by the NNPC Foundation Limited as part of efforts to strengthen healthcare infrastructure and improve access to advanced diagnostic services in the country.
Describing the facility as “an installation of hope, precision and excellence,” Ugboaja said the new MRI machine represents a major milestone in the hospital’s diagnostic capacity and healthcare delivery standards.
According to him, MRI technology remains one of the most reliable tools for the detailed examination of soft tissues, neurological conditions, musculoskeletal disorders and cancer-related cases.
“For many years, patients within our catchment area had to travel long distances and bear enormous financial burdens to access this level of diagnostic service,” he said.
“With this installation, we are bringing world-class diagnostic healthcare closer to the people.”
Ugboaja added that the intervention aligns with the hospital’s 10-year strategic development plan and supports the healthcare objectives of the administration of President Bola Tinubu under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
Speaking at the event, the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Limited, Bashir Ojulari, described the project as a strategic investment aimed at improving healthcare delivery for millions of Nigerians.
Ojulari, who was represented by the Managing Director of the NNPC Foundation, Emmanuella Arukwe, said the MRI installation would enhance early disease detection, accelerate clinical intervention and improve patient outcomes across the South-East and neighbouring regions.
“Today marks another milestone as NNPC Limited commissions and officially hands over equipment that is critical to optimal healthcare delivery in Nigeria,” he stated.
He noted that the intervention reflects the company’s broader corporate social responsibility commitment toward strengthening public institutions beyond the oil and gas sector.
According to him, the facility would significantly reduce the need for patients to travel outside the region for specialised diagnostic services, thereby lowering treatment costs and easing pressure on families.
The newly installed MRI system is equipped with supporting infrastructure including radio-frequency shielding systems, chillers, backup power supply and specialised imaging accessories. The project also includes a one-year manufacturer’s warranty and technical training for radiographers, radiologists and other medical personnel to ensure smooth and sustainable operations.
Arukwe said the initiative was designed to address persistent gaps in healthcare access and diagnostic services, particularly in underserved communities across Nigeria.
She cited a 2024 report by Nigeria Health Watch indicating that more than 250,000 Nigerians die annually due to inadequate access to healthcare services.
“What NNPC Limited, through its Foundation, has achieved today is a major step toward addressing these healthcare deficiencies,” she said.
She further noted that the MRI facility would serve not only patients but also provide practical training opportunities for future healthcare professionals.
Also speaking at the ceremony, the Commissioner for Health in Anambra State, Afam Obidike, praised the NNPC Foundation for the intervention, describing the project as a significant boost to specialist healthcare services in the state and the wider South-East region.
