By Ramatu Garba
The Nigeria National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Foundation has donated a 1.5 Tesla Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) system to the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Dala in Kano, to enhance healthcare service delivery in northern Nigeria.
The medical diagnosis equipment was inaugurated and handed over to the management of the hospital on Thursday in Kano.
The Group Chief Executive Officer, NNPC Ltd., Bashir Bayo Ojulari, said the intervention reflected the company’s commitment toward improving lives through strategic investments in critical sectors including healthcare, education and energy.
Represented by Emmanyella Arukwe, Managing Director of the Foundation, Ojulari said the company remained committed to its corporate social responsibility initiatives aimed at improving the lives of Nigerians.
He said the foundation had embarked on a series of healthcare projects in line with the company’s goal of contributing to national development.
“The National Orthopaedic Hospital, Dala, is a vital institution in Nigeria’s healthcare landscape with a long-standing reputation in trauma and orthopaedic care.
According to Ojulari, dtrengthening the hospital diagnostic capacity will significantly improve service delivery and reduce the burden of accessibility and affordability on patients.
He said Nigeria’s healthcare system continued to face challenges, including infrastructure deficit, equipment shortage and increasing demand for specialised services.
The intervention, he said, would enhance diagnostic capabilities and improve patient care outcomes.
The NNPC helmsman urged stakeholders to ensure proper utilisation, protection and maintenance of the equipment to guarantee its sustainability.
Sophia Mbakwe, Executive Vice-President, Business Services, NNPC, said the MRI machine would significantly enhance the hospital’s capacity to diagnose complex orthopaedic, neurological and musculoskeletal conditions, leading to better treatment outcomes.
Mbakwe was represented by Rose Okonkwo, Executive Director, Programme Management, NNPC Foundation.
She said the intervention would make advanced healthcare services more accessible and affordable to residents of Kano and beyond.
Arukwe further described the installation of the MRI machine as a major milestone in advancing healthcare delivery.
She said inadequate medical equipment remained a challenge in many developing countries, often resulting in delayed diagnosis, long-distance referrals and additional financial burdens on patients.
“The MRI system will improve diagnostic accuracy, reduce treatment delays and support better clinical outcomes,” she said.
The Chief Medical Director, Dr Isa Nurudeen, described the donation as the fulfilment of a long-standing aspiration of the hospital.
He said the absence of an MRI machine had compelled patients to travel long distances for advanced diagnostic services, leading to delays in treatment and increased costs.
Nurudeen said the MRI machine would significantly improve diagnosis and treatment planning for orthopaedic, neurological, surgical, paediatric and gynaecological conditions.
“The MRI machine being commissioned today is the most modern in Northern Nigeria. It was manufactured in 2025 and will greatly enhance our capacity to deliver quality specialised healthcare services.
“This intervention will save patients the stress and cost of seeking advanced imaging services outside Kano and will improve the quality and timeliness of care,” he said.
Nurudeen commended the gesture, and pledged to ensure effective utilisation of the facility.
Gov. Abba Kabir-Yusuf of Kano, represented by the Commissioner for Health, Dr Abubakar Labaran, described the donation as timely and impactful.
Kabir-Yusuf lauded the foundation for supporting healthcare delivery, and reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to invest in healthcare infrastructure and services to improve the wellbeing of citizens. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Yakubu Uba
