The health sector has received a boost with the support of the World Bank, which has financed the purchase of 16 fixed digital X-ray machines, worth 1.5 million dollars (94.8 million meticals).
According to a report in the newspaper Noticias, the purchase is aimed at improving the diagnosis of lung diseases and bone lesions in hospitals, reinforcing the capacity for care and treatment of tuberculosis.
The national director of Medical Assistance at the Ministry of Health (MISAU), Luísa Panguene, said that the new equipment will be distributed to health centres that are under construction, being refurbished or where services need to be expanded.
‘This equipment will be installed mainly in reference hospitals and will help diagnose all lung pathologies, such as pneumonia and bronchopneumonia, as well as allowing examinations of any bone structure, such as fractures and tumour lesions,’ she explained.
She also emphasised that although the devices don’t print the images, they can be shared with clinicians via a computer system.
‘We need to improve radiation care, so the health units will be equipped with lead radiological shields to prevent radiation from affecting other individuals,’ she added.
Luísa Panguene said that this investment in hospital equipment is part of the government’s ongoing efforts to improve hospital care and guarantee more accurate and faster diagnoses, benefiting, above all, the programmes to combat tuberculosis and other lung diseases.
