Ogadinma Mgbajah Is The First Female Cardiothoracic Surgeon In West Africa

Dr Ogadinma Mgbajah is the first woman to become a Cardiothoracic Surgeon In West Africa

With no clue that that there had not been a female in the field before her in West Africa, Ogadinma only wanted a platform to help people who have heart problems, however, she has emerged West Africa’s first female open-heart surgeon .

Practicing at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ogadinma Mgbajah said lecturers and examiners during the course of her training pointed it out to her that she was the first female in that field and that had encouraged her to continue.

In an interview with Punch in May, Ogadinma asserted there were competitions although very subtle from her male colleagues.

“I think the society has a way of conditioning women to think that there are some areas that do not belong to them. You cannot take away culture from us as Nigerians. We think that there is a limit to what a woman is supposed to do.  When you speak to medical students about what they want to do, they start by saying, “well, I’m a woman…” The fact that she is a woman clouds her judgement. She is her own biggest challenge. A woman needs to know that all you need to do is identify a problem and ask yourself if you have the capacity to solve this problem. If you don’t, can you build the capacity? If yes, then you go for it.” she said

Ogadinma also explained that her training took seven years and she had all her children within that period.

Speaking about the challenges of open-heart surgery in Nigeria, Ogadinma explained that providing for the care is expensive.

“Basically, the challenge with this specialty is because it is very precise. To provide cardiothoracic care is very costly. I am hoping we will get a lot of government support and health insurance to be able to help people who have this problem.”

“Nigeria has very few cardiothoracic surgeons because after the training, people ask themselves if they would actually be able to practise because most of the patients you see don’t have the finance to support themselves. A lot of patients are not even aware because a lot of cardiac problems are seen as spiritual attack. A lot of people have taken it as a death sentence when they walk into a hospital and they are told their hearts have failed. But there are so much that can be done to give such people a good quality of life.”

SOURCE: Womanng

In Nigeria, There Are 20 Fistula Surgeons to 120,000 Patients

A clinical Associate, Fistula Care Plus, Dr.Suleiman Zakariya has decried acute shortage of Fistula Surgeons in the country, lamenting that with a population of 170 million, Nigeria has only 20 fistula surgeons.

Speaking during a media round table discussion on Fistula intervention with the theme, "Service Availability; Access to service", in Sokoto, Zakariya expressed worry that the few number of fistula surgeons in the country does not match the over 120,000 Nigerians affected with the disorder every year.

He said that due to the acute shortage, only 5,000 out of a total of 12,000 new cases diagnosed each year are treated.

"Worldwide over two million women live with untreated obstetric fistula."

Advocating urgent intervention in fistula treatment, he said: "In Sub Sahara Africa, 1 in 16 women has the chance of dying in pregnancy or childbirth while in developed countries, 1 in 4,000 is at risk.

"In Nigeria, it is estimated that between 120,000 and 150,000 are living with Fistula and about 12,000 new cases are diagnosed per year. The most vulnerable group is the young, poor illiterate and rural women who are economically disadvantaged." Noting that although, all doctors know about fistula, he explained that not all surgeons can repair fistula because it is a specialised area of surgery.

Explaining why Nigeria may continue to witness shortage of fistula experts, he said: "Fistula repair is a specialized area of surgery that does not attract financial gains as most of the surgeries are done free of charge. As a result, many of the doctors are abandoning it to specialized in other lucrative areas.

"Fistula experts are not recognised. The pressure of being a fistula surgeon will drive them alone. It is difficult to retain doctors in the system. There is no money because it is done free of charge. Salary does not increase. There is no recognition, retaining doctors in the system is a problem," he further explained.

He said Engender Health under the Fistula Care Plus has trained a pool of doctors and nurses to boost the available pool of doctors and nurses in Nigeria. Further stating that obstetric fistula is a manifestation of sub-optimal healthcare, Zakariya called for the upgrade of emergency obstetric care in the country to prevent obstetric fistula.

The Clinical Associate stressed the need to increase political commitment to health through creating budget line for fistula. "Government should increase and improve health infrastructure and promote gender equity and reduce violence against women.

Identifying family planning as a factor in the treatment and prevention of Fistula, he said: "We need to improve access to family planning, provide safe and quality caesarian section, client friendly affordable services in the various hospitals as well as apply the use of catheter and partograph to monitor labour.

SOURCE: Vangaurdngr

“We are happy our daddy is back hale, hearty”

President Mohammadu Buhari yesterday returned to Abuja, saying he was completely healed, stronger, more energetic and now fit to resume presidential duties. Recall that the president penultimate week proceeded on a 10 day leave and later jetted out to London, United Kingdom where he had gone to treat a persistent ear infection. He was due to come back to the country on Thursday but failed to do so.

The Vice President as the Acting President then told Journalists that the president would be returning to the country on Sunday (Yesterday) as he needed to rest after the medicals. The president whose aircraft touched down at exactly 5:35 pm at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on Sunday said he was now fit. In a sure-footed manner, the president spoke to the State House Correspondents after inspecting a guard of honour by the Nigeria Armed Forces. 

“You have seen me. You saw me when I was going. You can do the assessment yourself. “I am okay. You can see me inspecting the guard of honour. You can see I am taller than you. Do you want to wrestle with me, you can do so”, he said. 

Also, his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina said he would resume duty today. “Mr President is fit and will resume work on Monday”, he said. 

On his part, the Chairman of Governors Forum and Zamfara State Governor, Abdulaziz Yari expressed gratitude to God for bringing the president home safely. “We thank God for bringing him (Buhari) back to his country. 

It is a good thing he went on break and returned to his people hale and hearty.” “Our daddy is back. He has gone to take a rest we are happy that he is back”, he said.

 Meanwhile, among government officials who were on hand to welcome the President were members of the cabinet including the Minister of the Environment Amina Mohammed, Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi; Minister of the Niger Delta affairs, Usani Usani. Others included Minister of Water Resources, Minister of State for Education, Minister of State for Budget and National Planning; Minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbe; Minister of Budget and National planning, Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami; Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Minister of Health, Minister of Interior, Gen. Dambazzua; Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari; Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibrahim Magu.

 Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello and Chief of Army Staff, Bruntia were also on hand.
SOURCE: Vanguardngr