Warri Central Hospital Gets New MRI, CT, Dialysis & Intensive Care Capacity
By BLESSING AGWE ODUGO
SPECIALIST healthcare delivery in Delta State is set for further expansion as the government deploys modern diagnostic and critical-care equipment at Central Hospital, Warri.
The intervention includes a 1.5 Tesla Magnetic Resonance Imaging machine, a CT scan, a dialysis unit and an Intensive Care Unit.
During an inspection of the facility, Commissioner for Health Dr. Joseph Onojaeme reviewed the progress of the new installations and confirmed that some of the services were already operational.
The MRI, in particular, has commenced operations. A lumbar scan was successfully conducted during the inspection, demonstrating that the equipment is ready for clinical use.
Onojaeme said patients would begin accessing the MRI service by Wednesday next week. He added that the government would regulate the charges to make the service more affordable.
Similarly, the CT scan and dialysis unit have become functional. The ICU is also nearing completion, with the commissioner putting its readiness at about 90 per cent.
The recent procurement of ventilators has helped move the intensive-care project closer to full operation. Onojaeme expects the unit to begin receiving patients within two weeks.
However, the government is looking beyond the immediate commissioning of the equipment.
One major concern is sustainability. Expensive diagnostic and critical-care machines require regular servicing, repairs and replacement of components. Without a reliable maintenance plan, such investments can gradually lose their effectiveness.
To address that challenge, the state plans to retain 30 per cent of revenue generated from the MRI, CT scan and dialysis services in a revolving maintenance fund.
That arrangement, according to the commissioner, will provide dedicated resources for maintaining the equipment. It will also reduce the hospital’s reliance on government funding once the manufacturers’ warranties expire.
Consequently, the initiative combines healthcare expansion with a sustainability strategy.
The new MRI and CT scan will strengthen the hospital’s diagnostic capacity, while the dialysis unit will broaden access to specialised renal care. In addition, the planned ICU will improve the facility’s capacity to manage patients who require intensive medical supervision.
For patients, the immediate significance lies in greater access to specialised services within the public healthcare system. For the government, the longer-term challenge will be to keep the equipment operational, maintain affordable charges and ensure that the revenue model continues to support the services.
Onojaeme said the overall objective remained the same: to ensure that Delta’s investment in modern healthcare infrastructure produces quality and affordable medical services for residents.
With the MRI already operating and the ICU approaching completion, Central Hospital, Warri, is consequently taking another step towards expanding its specialist healthcare capacity.
