News Editor
Delta state Governor Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa on Wednesday evening prayed for the elevation of his Sokoto state counterpart to a higher pedestal in the nation’s affairs while commissioning a N3.2 billion state of the art Sokoto State Advanced Medical Diagnostic Center (SOSAMEDIC) constructed by the latter in the state capital, Sokoto.
“Coming here, I have seen the way he relates with his people. That is what Nigeria needs.
“You are a man of peace who is always ready to build bridges. We are very thankful that God has ensured that you have held several positions. My prayers for you is that God will elevate you,” Okowa emphasized while showering encomiums on the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, who he noted is committed to the Nigerian project.
The construction of the edifice located a few kilometers from the 950-bed Sokoto State University Teaching Hospital (SOSUTH), which construction has reached over 60 per cent, gulped N824 million and is equipped with N2.4 billion ultra-modern equipment.
The latter include facilities for ECG, Stress ECG, Echocardiography, and Vascular Doppler, Gastrology, Endoscopy, Neurology, and EEG.
Other upscale tools for diagnosis are those for MRI, CT scan, Fluoroscopy, Digital X-ray, Mammography, Chemical Pathology, Histopathology, Microbiology, and Hematology.
All these are housed in a radiology, laboratory, dental, and ENT units as well as out-patient clinics, with capacity for medical, radiological and laboratory investigations.
Expected to be managed by Healthfield Medical Services Ltd, through a public-private partnership model, “the project,” observes Gov. Okowa, “speaks to the very heart of primary healthcare in the state.”
While describing the diagnostic center as closely-knit with the upcoming SOSUTH, Okowa applauded Tambuwal for his feat. “I want to congratulate my brother Governor (Tambuwal) for thinking about the people, because this is a project for the people and one that the people will cherish long after you have left the government as Governor.”
He added that: “I am not surprised that you are able to render services to your people in such a manner that they are happy, because you have always been focused and believed in your people and those of Nigeria.
According to him, Tambuwal whom he knew as a Speaker of the House of Representatives, understands the nation, is humble and accommodating.
“I am not surprised with what I see here… It is only a prudent person that can ensure this level of construction at below a billion naira. Having told us about the equipment inside, I am excited that the new best of equipment have also been put on ground,” he further added.
Earlier in his remarks, Gov. Tambuwal informed the August gathering that the project was a product of consultations with Sultan Abubakar before the draft proposal of an annual budget a couple of years ago.
Harping on the need to further strengthen the ties of unity across the country, the Governor pointed out that the state doesn’t discriminate against other Nigerians living in it.
“Whoever lives in Sokoto enjoys the benefit of free education,” healthcare and every other services that the state avails its citizens, Gov. Tambuwal said, just as he stressed the need for national cohesion, integration and good governance as against divisive partisan politics.
Highlights of the occasion were cultural displays by Sokoto-born Deltans and Akwa-Ibom/Delta entertainment groups as well as distribution of four cars to the top management of the new SOSAMEDIC.
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Muhammad Bello
Special Adviser Media and Publicity to the Governor
Dec.1, 2021
Sokoto
