•FG set to unveil three new cancer centres on May 29
•Pate: It’s most significant investment ever made in cancer care
CHIGOZIE AMADI
In a major breakthrough, the Duchess International Hospital, located in Ikeja, Lagos, has successfully performed a complex open-heart surgery on a five-year-old boy, whom it simply referred to as ‘Master D’.
The intricate procedure, which spanned three days from May 19 to 21, lasted for approximately 15 hours, showcasing the expertise and dedication of the hospital’s multidisciplinary team.
Speaking at the hospital’s headquarters in Ikeja, Lagos, yesterday, Dr. Mudasiru Salami, a renowned Consultant Cardiothoracic and Pediatric Surgeon who led the team, said: “I’m thrilled to announce that the surgery was a huge success, and Master D is on the road to recovery.
“Our team worked tirelessly to repair the defects in Master D’s heart, and it’s a reflection of our skill and dedication that he is making such a remarkable recovery,” he added.
It was learnt that the patient was born with Tetralogy of Fallot, a congenital heart defect that affects the normal flow of blood through the heart. The condition led to severe health complications, putting the young boy’s life at risk.
However, thanks to the exceptional care and precision of the medical team, the young man has made a remarkable recovery, it was gathered.
“We are proud of our team and the exceptional care they provided to Master D. We are grateful for the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of our patients and their families”, said Salami.
“The surgery was a complex procedure, but we were confident in our team’s abilities. We are proud of our team’s commitment to providing world-class medical services, and this success story reflects our hospital’s mission to deliver exceptional care to our patients”, Shitta-Bey noted.
“We’re committed to delivering exceptional care to our patients and making a difference in their lives. We are proud of our team’s achievements and look forward to continuing to push the boundaries of medical excellence”, said the Chief Executive Officer, Duchess International Hospital, Dr. Adetokunbo Shitta-Bey.
The parents of the patient, Mr. Ademola Adetona and Mrs Olutope Adetona, expressed their heartfelt gratitude to the medical team and the hospital for giving their son a second chance at life.
“We are incredibly thankful to God and the entire medical team for their expertise and care,” said Mrs. Adetona, fighting back tears.
“We were worried about our son’s condition, but the doctors and nurses at Duchess International Hospital have been amazing. They have given us hope and saved our son’s life. We can’t thank the medical team enough for giving us our son back. We are grateful for their dedication, compassion, and expertise. They are truly angels in white coats”, she added.
The surgical team comprised a diverse group of experts, including cardiac surgeons, anesthetists, perfusionists, and intensivists. Together, they worked tirelessly to repair the defects in Master D’s heart, including a hole in the wall between the two lower chambers, a narrowing of the pulmonary artery, and a thickening of the muscle on the right lower chamber.
The surgery was performed by a team of experts, including Dr. Salami, Consultant Cardiothoracic and Pediatric Surgeon; Dr. Bassey Udom, Cardiac Intensivist and Anaesthetist; Dr. Oladele Ojo, Medical Director; Mrs Adeola Lawal, Team Lead, ICU & CCU and Mr. Ayomide Ajani, Centre Manager, Cardiac Theatres and Endoscopy.
The hospital stated that the youngster’s road to recovery has been remarkable, with significant improvements in his condition.
His parents expressed heartfelt joy and gratitude for the medical team’s efforts, expressing the hope of a bright future for the boy.
“We’re so grateful for the care and attention our son has received,” they said. “We’re looking forward to a bright future for our son, and we’re thankful to the medical team for giving us hope,” they added.
The achievement highlights Duchess International Hospital’s commitment to providing world-class medical services. The hospital’s state-of-the-art facilities, highly skilled medical team, and dedication to excellence makes it a leader in advanced medical care in Nigeria.
Meanwhile, the federal government is set to unveil three new cancer centres, with capacity to train 500 clinicians over a three-year period. The three will be the first batch in a list of proposed 10 centres nationwide.
In a note from the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate, he explained that the centres which are set for inauguration on May 29, will serve nearly 2,000 oncology and 350,000 diagnostic clients annually.
“As President Bola Ahmed Tinubu marks the midpoint of his first term in office, I am pleased to unveil the most significant investment any Nigerian administration has ever made in cancer care.
“It entails the largest chain of oncology and diagnostic centres in West Africa with the capacity to train up to 500 clinicians over a three-year period while serving nearly 2,000 oncology and 350,000 diagnostic clients annually,” Pate stressed.
In the coming days, he stated that the newly constructed cancer centres at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Katsina; the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Nsukka; and the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, will be commissioned by President Bola Tinubu and opened to the public.
According to the minister, while key staff of the institutions are presently being trained in South Africa ahead of full institutional operationalisation, the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has launched a cost-sharing initiative to improve access to cancer care.
This, he said, will be done by subsidising up to N400,000 for eligible disadvantaged patients undergoing radiotherapy, and by extension, helping to reduce the financial burden of treatment.
“Under the compassionate leadership of H.E. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and in conformity with his Renewed Hope Agenda, we are removing both supply and demand obstacles to affordable and qualitative cancer care in Nigeria,” Pate added
