By Chioma Umeha

Copyright independent

In a strategic move to upend the status quo in African healthcare, Cassona Global Imaging Ltd has officially launched its medical imaging programme and diagnostic equipment in Nigeria, marking its third anniversary, vowing to revolutionise healthcare delivery across Nigeria and Sub-Saharan Africa.

The high-profile unveiling event in Lagos drew heavyweight stakeholders from the health sector, including Abia State’s Commissioner for Health and Health Justice, Prof. Enoch Ogbonnaya Uche, and Mrs. Kemi Ogunyemi, Special Adviser to the Lagos State Ministry of Health.

Dr. John Chigbu, Cassona’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, reiterated his company’s mission, “Healthcare is not charity – it is a business. You cannot talk about infrastructure without health and education. They are the foundation.” His company is tackling the twin challenges of affordability and reliability head-on by financing medical equipment, training professionals, and guaranteeing long-term maintenance to eliminate downtime.

“We bring equipment at more affordable rates. You pay 20 percent upfront and spread the balance over 24 months, while we maintain it so it never fails,” Chigbu stated. “We will also train doctors, radiologists, sonographers and provide backup power systems to keep equipment running during power cuts.”

Cassona is confronting a critical gap in African medical training: the lack of hands-on experience with modern diagnostic machines. Through structured training and continuous support, the company aims to equip practitioners with the skills they need to deliver world-class care. It has also begun constructing diagnostic centres and fast-tracked hospitals, enabling private practitioners to operate without the crushing financial burden of equipment acquisition.

Having successfully piloted its model in Ghana, Cassona boasts an unblemished record—over 140 machines installed in three years without a single breakdown. Chigbu attributes this to rigorous maintenance protocols and the professionalism of healthcare providers.

Prof. Uche hailed Cassona as “a phenomenon”, calling for intensified public-private partnerships to fast-track universal healthcare in Nigeria. “They have reached over 130 centres across West Africa in just three years. This is the icing on the cake,” he said. “Abia State under Dr. Alex Otti is driving a healthcare revolution, and we want to partner with people like Cassona to make healthcare accessible and affordable.”

He further revealed that Abia State has functionalised 50 primary healthcare centres in just two weeks, and expressed pride in Dr. Chigbu’s Abia roots.

Mrs. Ogunyemi echoed the sentiment, emphasising Lagos State’s eagerness to collaborate with innovative players like Cassona to advance its THEMES Plus health agenda. “They take the stress out of buying and managing equipment by providing training, parts, and maintenance in one package. Those are the kinds of partnerships we want,” she said. “We know government alone cannot do it, and our goal is to ensure Lagosians get access to quality, affordable healthcare.”

She added that such collaborations will lead to better diagnostics, improved treatment outcomes, and renewed public trust in the health system.

Cassona reaffirmed its commitment to catalysing private sector-led healthcare investment across Africa, stressing that it is not seeking monopoly but rather aiming to open the space for more innovation-driven players.