Advanced CT scan for Seychelles Hospital |06 May 2015

The Seychelles Hospital has received a new 20 multi-slice computed tomography (CT) scan machine worth R5.9 million from Land Marine Ltd.

The handover ceremony of the new piece of equipment which has been installed in the newly refurbished CT scan room at the Sheikh Khalifa Diagnostic Centre, took place yesterday afternoon.

It was the chairman of Land Marine Ltd board Glenny Savy who handed over the CT scan to Health Minister Mitcy Larue.

This was in the presence of Vice-President Danny Faure, the chairperson of the Health Care Agency (HCA) board, Ambassador Maurice Loustau-Lalanne, members of the HCA, key health officers among other guests.

Expressing her gratitude to the stevedoring company for this invaluable piece of equipment Minister Larue said the CT scan is an essential tool in the investigation of many types of diseases as it provides doctors with the information that will enable them to establish diagnosis – a significant step in the treatment of our patients.

Recognising inconveniences that had handicapped medical services significantly when the other CT scan had been out of order for days while the health ministry awaited spare parts, Minister Larue said this new machine will complement the existing CT scan service
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“I am glad that the close collaboration we have with Land Marine Ltd has allowed us to acquire this new machine which will enable us to provide an uninterrupted service to the public and reduce the pressure on the existing machine,” Minister Larue added.

She noted that such donations from Land Marine Ltd are not new as in 2005 the company donated to the health ministry its first Spiral CT scan which replaced a conventional one. The Spiral CT scan machine was in service until 2011 when it was replaced by a 64 multi-slice CT scan.

“Today with this significant donation from the community, it is also an opportunity to highlight the importance of how community can contribute to improve health care in our country,” Minister Larue said.

For his part, Mr Savy said the reason for this donation is the same as when Land Marine Ltd donated the first CT scan 10 years ago.

“Very often you hear that people have to travel overseas to get a CT scan done and I approached the board of directors to discuss how the company could help through its  corporate  socially responsibility action,” Mr Savy said.

HCA deputy chief executive, Dr Danny Lounge said the new CT scan has brought another advantage compared to the existing one.

“Its specifications will allow us to deliver another type of service especially to emergency patients and those in a critical state. This CT scan is faster, one of the latest technology and creates results with better resolution under less than a minute. It is an honour to have such a piece of state-of-the-art equipment in our health system,” Dr Louange said.

Vice-President Faure, Minister Larue and Mr Savy cut the ribbon before guests along with the head of radiology, Dr Olena, could proceed on a tour of the new CT scan room.