Health

Doctors celebrate FMC Abuja breakthrough in open heart surgery

Published

3 years ago

March 11, 2022

DOCTORS in Abuja are celebrating a breakthrough in open heart surgery that has enabled people with coronary heart disease to have the damaged or abnormal areas of their hearts repaired in the nation’s capital city.

Experts at the Federal Medical Centre, Abuja, successfully carried out the operations recently where the chests of four patients were cut open and the surgeries performed on the muscles, valves and arteries of their hearts to rehabilitate them. The medical procedures, Arewa Voice gathered, paved the way for blood to flow properly to the hearts of the patients and reduce their odds of suffering a heart attack. The successful surgeries were the first of a kind in the country.

Visibly excited by the medical feat recorded by the home-grown doctors in Abuja, the Minister of State for Health, Dr. Olorunnimbe Mamora, described it as worthy of celebration. During his visit to the FMC Abuja, accompanied by the members and Chairman of the hospital governing board, after the successful open heart surgeries, Mamora said: “I am happy and excited regarding this feat and the outcome. Of course, even the machine, one of which, I am told, is the only one in the country at this point in time, makes us very proud of this hospital and the fantastic work the doctors and others are doing to improve health care delivery.”

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One of the patients who had the successful open heart surgery at the facility, Aisha Damisa, was said to have earlier been diagnosed with a condition where blood could not flow properly to her heart, and so required an operation in which, among other procedures, a healthy vein or artery would be used to make a new path around the blocked artery to restore proper flow.

Recounting her experiences before and after the operation, she described them as “bitter sweet”. “It was bitter because of the fact that I was not sure what the result will be; whether I will come out of it alive or not. And, sweet because here I am alive,” Aisha said.

The Chief Medical Director of FMC Abuja, Prof. Sa’ad Aliyu Ahmed, who coordinated the processes required for the surgeries to become successful, already has his eyes set on the next steps.

Prof Ahmed said: “It is not enough for us to just do open heart surgery missions, and then we close our theatres. We are looking at how we can domesticate this feat, and then do these surgeries routinely.”

Nonetheless, some of the challenges facing the medical facility include the need for expansion and further provision of state-of-the-art medical equipment for the hospital. However, the Federal Government has said these issues are already being addressed.

Some FCT residents, who were also thrilled by the breakthrough, said the addition of advanced open heart surgeries to the wide range of medical specialties offered at FMC Abuja will curb medical tourism.

“Open heart surgery is not an easy task, but when you have four successfully done at a go, then be sure that it has to involve an uncommon expertise,” a resident said.

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Related Topics:federal medical Nigerians surgery

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Health

Don’t leave Nigeria, health minister begs medical practitioners

Published

24 hours ago

November 29, 2024

Trends Admin

Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Mohammad Pate

Don’t leave Nigeria, health minister begs medical practitioners

Abuja—The Federal Government, yesterday, begged medical practitioners in the country against relocating to foreign countries, urging them to remain not only committed but also patriotic to the service of their fatherland.

The plea came as the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, MDCN, inducted over 600 foreign trained medical and dental graduates, thereby increasing the workforce in the gnation’s health sector and adding to the capacity for human resources for health.

Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Mohammad Pate, who stated this at the event, insisted that medical practitioners must remain in the country to “build a better image for the health sector and build our nation.

“I must say this, please don’t japa, let’s do this together and build a better image for the health sector and build our nation,” Prof. Pate,who was represented at the event by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Ms. Kachollom Daju, said.

The minister added: “You have all journeyed from your various homes to pursue education abroad, overcoming not only academic challenges, but also cultural, emotional and logistical hurdles. Your experience both in the classroom and in the field have equipped you with unique skills and characteristics that will enhance your practice of medicine or dentistry.

“It is obvious that this is a special moment for you and your family, friends, mentors and those who have supported you along the way.

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“Your achievements reflect their support, sacrifices and faith in your potential. I will also like to extend my appreciation to the universities, institutions and most especially the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria that provided the educational foundation for your growth and ensuring compliance to the prescribed guidelines.

“Today, dear doctors, as we take the Hippocratic oath, you are making a solemn commitment to upholding the highest ethical standards in your practice.

“The chairman has already ruled out some of the points for you that you need to work on as doctors. Commitment, humility, service to patients and what the empathy and compassion is, amongst other things.
“The political sector for the government and health is moving towards quality care, safe care, safety of people. Because through the years, the health sector in Nigeria has been inundated with a lot of citizens complaining about the state of our health care system. Now we have over 600 of you being doctors today and you are coming into this space that is very critical to our nature of journey.

“Therefore, you are pledging to serve humanity with compassion, integrity and a deep sense of responsibility. We now hope that your work will directly impact the lives and well-being of your people. Because the trust that society places on you is immense and you see the responsibility that you must challenge with the utmost seriousness and professionalism.

Don’t leave Nigeria, health minister begs medical practitioners

Health

NAFDAC seizes ₦300m worth of counterfeit drugs in Lagos

Published

1 day ago

November 28, 2024

Trends Admin

NAFDAC Seizes ₦300m Worth of Counterfeit Drugs in Lagos

NAFDAC seizes ₦300m worth of counterfeit drugs in Lagos

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has uncovered counterfeit medicines worth ₦300m during a raid at Tyre Village within the Trade Fair Complex, Lagos State.

In a statement shared on X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday, NAFDAC revealed that the operation led to the confiscation of fake pharmaceuticals, including Amoxicillin 500 mg, Ampicloxa capsules 500 mg, and packaging materials for Augmentin capsules 625 mg.

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“These counterfeit medicines pose serious health risks, such as treatment failure, organ damage, and potential carcinogenic effects due to their unknown compositions,” the statement warned.

The facility has been sealed, and a suspect linked to the illegal operation has been invited for questioning as investigations continue.

NAFDAC seizes ₦300m worth of counterfeit drugs in Lagos

Health

Female doctors campaign against rising iron deficiency anaemia in Kano

Published

2 days ago

November 28, 2024

Trends Admin

Female doctors campaign against rising iron deficiency anaemia in Kano

The Kano state chapter of Medical Women’s Association of Nigeria (MWAN) has intensified campaign against the growing cases of Iron Deficiency Anaemia (IDA) in Kano, describing it as a dangerous trend that need to be curbed urgently.

MWAN raised the concern during a sensitization awareness campaign it organized at Government Girls College, Kano, on Wednesday.

The event was organized in collaboration with the National Committee on Adolescent Health (NCAH) and Nigerian Medical Association (NMA).

The sensitization awareness was part of this year’s World Day of Iron Deficiency Anaemia with themes: “Iron for Maternal Survival : Combating Iron Deficiency to Prevent Post Partum Haemorrhage,” held at the school premises.

Speaking during the event, the chairperson of Kano state Chapter of the NWAN, Dr. Halima Adamu said the association decided to organise the awareness campaign as part of its contributions to prevent such disease, especially among younger girls in the state.

Dr. Halima Adamu who described the iron deficiency as one of the foremost contributions to disease burden around the world, predominantly affecting young. Children (mainly under-5 years), premenopausal women and population groups from low and middle income countries.

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She added that a systematic review investigated children and iron deficiency and the results found the global prevalence of iron deficiency to mostly underdeveloped nations.

She called on the relevant stakeholders in the health sector and government at all levels to work collectively in order to prevent the disease across the country.

In her presentation, the Guest Speaker at the occasion, Dr. Nafisa Sidi Sani said efforts have been intensified, especially, in various aspects of awareness aimed at preventing the disease.

She assured that with the support from the stakeholders and private sectors, as well as, governments, the sky will be their limit.

She said: “Anaemia is only one of the many consequences resulting from being iron deficient. Over 1.2 billion people worldwide were diagnosed in 2016 with iron deficiency anaemia, and it is among the five highest causes of years lived with disability.

“Iron deficiency anaemia can cause a fast or abnormal heartbeat, which means the heart has to pump harder to ensure there is enough oxygen in the blood. This may lead to an enlarged heart or heart failure.”

In her vote of thanks, the Vice Principal of the school, Malama Maimuna Bashir applauded the organisers efforts in this regard.

Malama Maimuna Bashir assured that the students definitely would utilize what they learnt into practice in order to improve and sustain their health.

Highlights of the event include distribution of shoes, drugs and pamphlet to the students donated by the Medical women’s Association of Nigeria.