Laparoscopic Surgery Will Reverse Medical Tourism – LUTH CMD


By Chioma Umeha
Experts have said that development in laparoscopic surgery in Nigeria would reverse medical tourism which is costing the country over one billion dollars annually on capital flight.
This was partly the outcome of the fourth International Workshop organised by the Laparoscopic Surgery Society of Nigeria (LASSON) in Lagos on Monday, with theme of the workshop is: “Enhancing Training in Laparoscopic Surgery in West Africa.’’
Among those who spoke were Prof. Chris Bode, the Chief Medical Director, Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba, who noted that laparoscopic surgery, which started many years ago in Europe and America, was just taking its root in Nigeria.
Bode, who was represented by Prof. Sulaiman Giwa, LUTH Head of Surgery, said: “We are in a hurry to catch up with the developments in Europe and America, so as to reduce medical tourism.
“People have read about what is referred to as key-hole surgery, which they want to go abroad to get it done.
“But, if we can offer such service here, it will be obviously cheaper, and also keep the patients in their environment.
Laparoscopy is defined as “a surgical diagnostic procedure used to examine the organs inside the abdomen.
“It is a low-risk, minimally invasive procedure. Only small incisions are made. Laparoscopy is often used to identify and diagnose the source of abdominal or pelvic pain. It’s usually performed when other, noninvasive methods are unable to help with diagnosis.’’
“We are also in a hurry to train as many surgeons as possible across the six geo-political zones so that the service can be offered in the country,” the LUTH CMD said.
Similarly, Dr Jimi Coker, the President of LASSON, said that the workshop was aimed at encouraging surgeons, and to enhance their skills in surgery.
“This is to ensure that surgeons across the country move from the old fashion operation to the key-hole process.
“This is a process where recovery is a lot quicker and patients are able to go back to their normal lives as quickly as possible.
“To achieve this, we need to ensure that surgeons are properly trained, and not just the surgeons, but the whole team, which includes the perioperative nurses,” he said.
Perioperative nursing is a nursing specialty that works with patients who are having operative or other invasive procedures.
Coker said that the association has put coordinators in place within the geo-political zones to serve as consultants to train, support and mentor surgeons on laparoscopic surgery.
In his remarks, Dr Abuchi Okaro, a Bariatric Surgeon from UK, said that the training was a good initiative.
Okaro, speaking as a guest speaker, also identified the cost of equipment as another major challenge.
“Managers of hospitals are key to buying equipment needed; high demand in laparoscopic surgery will reduce the cost of equipment and make it more affordable.
“The real challenge is to get surgeons who are interested in training and learning the skills, and also to apply it with their nurses,” he said.




Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Limited Information Frustrates Young Women From Using Family Planning

Image
BY CHIOMA UMEHA, Awareness and proper understanding of family planning has been recognised to reduce maternal death among young women of reproductive age between 15 and 49. Data on Sexual Reproductive Health outcomes in Nigeria stresses the importance of focusing on adolescents. At 576 maternal death per 1,000 live births, Nigeria accounts for 14 percent of the global burden of maternal mortality (NDHS 2013/WHO 2014). Global evidence shows that young girls bear a higher burden of maternal mortality and morbidity. Data shows that the average age at sexual debut is roughly 15 years of age among adolescent mothers in Nigeria. (NDHS 2003, 2008, 2013). The National adolescent fertility rate in Nigeria is 122 births per 1,000 women aged 15 to 19 years. In the North Western States, it is as high as 171 births per 1,000 women aged 15 to 19 years. To stem this, the government of Lagos State with support from partners and other donor agencies has put in place youth-friendly he
Read more

Insurgency: Nigerian Army Clears 25 More Children Of Links With Armed Groups, Says UNICEF

Image
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has said Thursday that 25 more children had been freed from Nigerian Army administrative custody having been cleared of suspected links with armed groups. With this number, a total of 44 children had been released this year, bringing the number to 1,627 children since 2016, that is four years now, the UN agency for children has said. UNICEF which announced this in a press statement signed by its Communication Specialist, Dr. Geoffrey Njoku, specifically said, “Twenty-three boys and two girls were released today from Nigerian Army administrative custody after being cleared of suspected ties with armed groups. This brings the number of children released this year to 44,” it added. It bemoaned the discrimination, deprivation and cruelty which the children have suffered. “These are children taken away from their families and communities, deprived of their childhood, education, health-care, and of the chance to grow up in a safe and enabling envir
Read more

PSN President Commissions ACPN National Secretariat

Image
Chioma Umeha History was made among the community pharmacists recently, as the national body of the Association of Community Pharmacists (ACPN) inaugurated its National Secretariat at Ikeja, Lagos State. The event was graced by many notable personalities in the pharmaceutical sector including, Pharm. Ahmed Yakasai, the president of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) who commissioned the befitting edifice. Other notable guests at the event were – Dr. UNO Uwaga, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees for ACPN; Pharm. Bukky George, the Managing Director of Healthplus, among many former presidents of different pharmaceutical bodies. Pharm. Yakasai stated that it was a thing of joy for him to see this development come to light. He said that he is ‘a proud father’ as the inauguration of the building was a “testimony of when you have a proud son who can carry out directives.” He described the secretariat as “A home for all pharmacists across board.”
Read more