The Federal Polytechnic Bida Medical Centre has acquired a digital x-ray machine to improve its ability to detect internal abnormalities in patients, especially new students, during screening.
The Director, Medical Centre, Dr Abdulmalik Mustapha who disclosed this in an interview, said, “The x-ray machine is a digital machine that penetrates all soft tissues so that it can draw the image which it captures and then print it out in form of a negative called the x-ray. The machine works like a photograph which makes use of film material to capture image in the body.”
The medical director also explained that the machine has the ability to detect any abnormalities in the body such as diseases like tuberculosis, pneumonia, lungs and kidney related problems and also has the ability to illuminate and reveal any fracture of the bone in the body.
“The purchase of this machine is to assist in the screening of the newly admitted students of the institution,” he said.
Dr Abdulmalik further stated that each student paid the sum of N1,000 to receive the service which may cost more if they go to private hospital, adding that the machine is the only one in Niger State and even other states in the country may not have an advanced one as the one bought by the clinic, because it is an advanced high tech digital x-ray machine.
He also stated that people from other places benefit from the service rendered by the machine. “It is not for the students of FPB alone, but also people from far and wide could access it and benefit from the service.”
Ayenigba Sunday
(HND II, Department of Mass Communication, Federal Polytechnic, Bida, Niger State)