Odimmegwa Johnpeter/Abuja
The Corporate Social Responsibility arm of NNPC Limited, the NNPC Foundation, has commissioned and handed over a fully installed state-of-the-art 1.5 Tesla Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) facility to Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital in a move aimed at strengthening healthcare delivery and improving access to advanced diagnostic services in the South-East region.
The MRI facility was officially commissioned on Friday at the Igwe Orizu ICT Centre, NAUTH Permanent Site, in Nnewi.
The intervention forms part of the healthcare support initiatives of NNPC Ltd. targeted at improving medical infrastructure and expanding access to quality healthcare services across Nigeria.
The newly installed MRI system is expected to significantly improve diagnostic imaging services for millions of residents across the South-East states of Anambra State, Enugu State, Imo State, Abia State and Ebonyi State, as well as neighbouring Delta State.
Speaking during the commissioning ceremony, the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Ltd., Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari, represented by the Managing Director of NNPC Foundation Ltd./Gte, Mrs. Emmanuella Arukwe described the project as a strategic investment in healthcare access, improved patient care, and diagnostic precision.
According to her, the intervention reflects NNPC Ltd.’s commitment to building sustainable institutions and supporting impactful healthcare initiatives capable of transforming lives.
She noted that the MRI facility would help reduce the burden faced by patients who previously travelled long distances or incurred huge costs to access advanced imaging services outside the region.
The commissioning ceremony attracted government officials, traditional rulers, healthcare professionals, and members of the hospital management, who commended the NNPC Foundation for what they described as a timely and impactful intervention in the health sector.
Dignitaries at the event participated in the official unveiling and inspection of the facility and expressed optimism that the equipment would greatly enhance medical diagnosis and treatment within the hospital.
The intervention included the delivery, installation, calibration, testing, and commissioning of the modern 1.5 Tesla MRI machine alongside critical support infrastructure designed to ensure efficient operation of the facility.
The supporting infrastructure includes Radio Frequency shielding systems, cooling chillers, backup Uninterruptible Power Supply systems, electrical installations, specialised imaging accessories, ventilation systems, CCTV monitoring systems, oxygen monitoring facilities, intercom communication systems and other patient-support technologies.
Medical experts say the availability of the MRI system at NAUTH will improve early diagnosis and treatment of several medical conditions, reduce referral pressure on hospitals outside the region and enhance the hospital’s capacity to provide world-class healthcare services.
The intervention further underscores the growing role of corporate organisations in supporting healthcare infrastructure development and improving access to quality medical services across the country.
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