On 14 November 2022, hope bloomed in Port Harcourt with the commissioning of the Dr. Peter Odili Cancer and Cardiovascular Disease Diagnostic and Treatment Centre. Constructed by Julius Berger at a staggering cost of N29 billion, this state-of-the-art facility promised to revolutionize healthcare in Rivers State, offering advanced treatment for cancer and heart disease, and potentially becoming a hub for medical tourism in Nigeria.

But today, a chilling silence hangs over the center, raising a crucial question: Is this massive investment being left to rot?

Imagine a hospital designed to offer a lifeline to those battling life-threatening illnesses, boasting cutting-edge technology and specialized care.

The Odili Centre was intended to be precisely that. Equipped with 72 beds, including a specialized ICU ward for vulnerable patients, a fully equipped pathology lab, advanced radiology department, two operating theaters, a cutting-edge Cath lab for diagnosing and treating cardiovascular ailments, a 13-chair chemotherapy department, and eight consultation rooms, the facility was poised to deliver comprehensive chronic disease care to the region.

Yet, nearly three years after its grand opening, the center remains largely dormant, its high-tech equipment gathering dust. The reason for this unexpected closure has been attributed to the challenges in running a comprehensive cancer center, as well as infrastructural issues leading to delays in curative radiotherapy, according to a source.

While initial plans included outsourcing management to foreign partners, those plans appear to have stalled, leaving the center in a state of limbo.

The consequences of this inaction are far-reaching. Beyond the obvious financial loss of a multi-billion naira investment, the possible dereliction of the center will rob the people of Rivers State, and indeed the entire region, of access to potentially life-saving medical care.

In a country where cancer treatment options are limited, the Odili Centre represented a beacon of hope. Now, that hope is fading.

"The non-functionality of the center is a colossal waste of scarce resources and deprives cancer patients of needed treatment,"

This stark reality underscores the urgent need for action. The Rivers State government must prioritize the reactivation of the Odili Centre. This requires addressing the infrastructural challenges, securing qualified personnel, and ensuring sustainable management practices.

The words of the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero, ring with particular urgency. He had urged the incoming administration to ensure the facility is well-equipped and maintained to global standards. This is not merely a matter of fulfilling a promise, but a moral imperative to provide access to quality healthcare and prevent further loss of life.

The Odili Cancer and Cardiovascular Disease Diagnostic and Treatment Centre represents more than just a building; it embodies the hopes and aspirations of a community yearning for a healthier future. To allow it to remain unused is not only a waste of resources but a betrayal of the very people it was intended to serve.

The time for action is now.

Will the Rivers State government seize the opportunity to transform this empty promise into a life-saving reality? The health and well-being of countless individuals depend on it.