For too long, residents of Rivers State have faced the harsh reality of limited access to specialised medical care. Cancer patients, in particular, have been forced to travel long distances — sometimes out of state — just to receive timely diagnosis and treatment.
That narrative is now changing with the opening of the Dr. Peter Odili Cancer and Cardiovascular Disease Diagnostic and Treatment Centre in Port Harcourt.
This facility is a lifeline. Strategically located at Ikwerre Road, Rumuokwuta, the centre brings world-class healthcare closer to the people, reducing the risks associated with delayed or incomplete treatment.
With chemotherapy, nuclear medicine, advanced pathology, and radiology services all under one roof, patients no longer have to endure the stress, cost, and uncertainty of travelling far from home for life-saving care.
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The benefits extend beyond convenience. The centre’s 72-bed capacity, including a 10-bed ICU/CCU with isolation cubicles, ensures that critically ill patients receive specialised attention in a safe, modern environment.
Features like the 13-chair chemotherapy department, catheterisation laboratory, and modern operating theatres signal that Rivers State is serious about providing care that meets international standards.
Families will save on travel and treatment costs, reducing the financial strain often associated with serious illness. The centre also positions Rivers State as a hub for specialised healthcare in the Niger Delta, attracting skilled professionals and potentially stimulating medical tourism.
Most importantly, the centre restores hope. For patients battling cancer and cardiovascular diseases, timely intervention can mean the difference between life and death. For Rivers State, it represents a long-overdue investment in its people’s well-being, a facility that promises not just treatment, but dignity, care, and reassurance.
