By Peter Onyekachukwu 
By Peter Onyekachukwu
The Delta State Executive Council 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) in Ovwian, Udu Local Government Area.
Dr. Joseph Onojaeme, the Delta State Commissioner for Health, made this known while briefing journalists after the State Executive Council meeting presided over by Governor Sheriff Oborevwori.
Dr. Onojaeme 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.”
He explained that the decision by the Federal Government to establish the FMC in Ovwian was a welcome development for Udu and surrounding communities.
“The establishment of a Federal Medical Centre at Ovwian is a good development because Udu and environs actually need a specialist health centre to complement what we have already given at the Central Hospital, Warri,” he said.
Dr. Onojaeme also announced that the State Executive Council approved the procurement and installation of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machines at Asaba Specialist Hospital, Central Hospital Warri, and Delta State University Teaching Hospital, Oghara.
He said, “Exco graciously approved the procurement of three Magnetic Resonance Imaging scan machines. These machines are non-evasive and answer a lot of clinical questions ranging from excellent prostate imaging, degenerating spine injuries, brain and other soft tissue imaging.
“Before now, we don’t have a functioning MRI scan machine in the state. The one we are purchasing is a 1.5 Tesla MRI scan machine that is helium-free.
“The reason the one we had before now didn’t stand the test of time is because it is helium-dependent, and the cost of refilling helium is almost the same as buying a new one.
“So, this one is good for the state. We went for a product-specific Siemens German machine. It is going to last the state and it came with a two-year maintenance warranty,” he said.
Dr. Onojaeme added that before now, patients were being referred to the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) and Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), but with the new MRI machines, many high-end imaging services would now be available within Delta State.