Surgery
By Emmanuel Antswen
Makurdi, April 17, 2019 (NAN) The Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Makurdi, on Wednesday said it had successfully conducted its first total knee replacement surgery at the centr, by its staff.
The Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the centre, Dr Peteru Inunduh, told newsmen in Makurdi that the centre planned to end medical tourism by providing various tertiary healthcare services to the people.
“You will recall that just last year, we successfully did a spinal surgery in this hospital.
“It is the same drive that has taken us to start total kneel replacement surgery and we think that there are a lot of patients within this area in need of such service.
“We are doing this because we want to reduce medical tourism and save a lot of funds for the Government of Nigeria,” he said.
The chief medical director attributed the scientific leaps to prudent management of sacred resources within their disposal.
Inunduh further disclosed that plans were underway for a Vitro Fertilization (IVF) project to tackle fertility challenges.
Earlier, the lead orthopedic surgeon, Dr Joseph Okoh, said the patient, who underwent the total knee surgery, started walking 72 hours after the exercise was completed, adding the patient was recovering as expected.
Okoh, who majored in Arthroscopy and Spine Surgery, commended the management of FMC Makurdi for providing “quite a conducive environment for the surgery to take place.”
The physician also lauded d the management for waiving all theatre fees for the patient operated upon and four others waiting to undergo the surgery in the next four weeks.
He said the gesture was to encourage those with similar health challenges to come for treatment.
The surgeon explained that the common causes of arthritis were natural aging in human beings, trauma and improper fixation of fracture among others.
One of the patients, Ms Nse Ikpe, said she started walking after 72 hours after the surgery, adding that the pain had greatly reduced.
Ikpe, who is a Deputy Director, Nursing Services at the centre, said the entire team of surgeons exhibited highest level of professionalism during the surgery.
She, who disclosed that the cost of the surgery was not comparable to the relief she currently enjoyed after the surgery, appealed to the public with similar arthritis condition to visit the centre for treatment. (NAN)
AEB/PD/DUA
Edited by Philip Dzeremo/Dada Ahmed