•28 doctors trained

An America-based Geanco Foundation, in collaboration with Life International Hospital, Awka, Anambra State, has trained 28 doctors from states of the federation in laparoscopic surgery.

Laparoscopic surgery is a minimally invasive surgical technique used in the abdominal and pelvic areas in which the doctor does not open the patient’s stomach.

It uses the aid of a laparoscope – a thin, telescopic rod with a camera at the end – to see inside of the body without opening it.

The Mission Lead for the Geanco Laparoscopic Surgery to Life International Hospital, Awka, Dr. Kevin El-Hayek, an Associate Professor at Case Western Reserve University, School of Medicine, the MetroHealth System, Ohio, USA, said the target was to instil a passion to provide more opportunities for minimal access surgery to the people in Nigeria.

He said: “I want everyone from this training to go to their communities to continue to build on these skills. We have given them the inspiration to continue their training to practise and  become leaders in minimum access surgery.

“Everyday we did didatic lectures in the morning, lectures in various types of laparoscopic surgeries, had our hands on simulation lab session where we taught them techniques outside the human body and had live operations.

“We had on the average six to eight operations per day where the trainees participated as assistants and we taught them strategies of the surgery. We have a team of four surgeons. Support team Afam Onyema CEO Geanco and Obinna Okoye in charge of logistics. Other support team workers here already in Nigeria.”

A paediatric surgeon from University of California, Los Angeles, USA, Dr. Ronnie Sullines, said she was overwhelmed and impressed by the hunger, enthusiasm and thirst for knowledge the training had brought.

“I think it will be very easy for them with this free programme to coast through and update their knowledge in advanced medicine in surgical operations.

“Technology in medicine is hard because new technology also comes with commensurate responsibility to use it appropriately and to introduce it with the support from the hospital which Life Hospital has provided, bearing in mind that surgery is a teamwork.

“The team are the people which include pre and post diagnosis, OR workers, surgeons, trainees, hospital administration and ethics of the mission. To have the support and talk about them, even those outside medicine is really important from top to bottom.”

Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma has said peace is inevitable for development and progress to be achieved in the state.

He added that no amount of blackmail, propaganda and backbiting would deter him from pursuing peace and from doing things that would please God, more so as blackmail had been proved to be as old as mankind.

The governor spoke yesterday at the end of a thanksgiving service in honour of Justice Chinaemerem Ucheoma Enyinna Onuegbu, wife of Chief Political Adviser and Head Political Bureau, Enyinna Onuegbu, at the Anglican Church of the Pentecost, Area ‘H’ New Owerri.

Addressing the congregation at the end of the service, Uzodimma noted that the synergy between the church and government remained non- negotiable because “there is every need for the government to seek the prayers of the church for it to succeed.”

He said: “When one eye is bleeding, the other eye is also bleeding.”

He acknowledged that in Imo, it is only God that has helped the state to continue to exist and regretted that “many people have refused to see good things happening even when their eyes are open.”

Making reference to the sermon of the day that harped on “trusting God”, drawn from Psalm 72:12, the governor said it is only God that gives life and as citizens we are having life because God exists.

“Be you a Christian, Muslim, bishop, politician or businessman, God sees all of us and what we do.”

The governor said Imo State is happy that God has given us life, which is the primary thing.

He said he would stop at nothing in making sure things were done properly.

He donated N10 million to assist the church in the building of their hall.

The Bishop of Anglican Diocese of Ohaji/Egbema, Rt. Rev. Chidi Oparajiaku, admonished the congregation to always take their problems to God, stressing that “God is the helper of the helpless and God opens doors for those who trust in Him.”

Cross River State Governor Ben Ayade has expressed optimism that a combined power generation from the two power plants built by his administration would give the state about 50 megawatts of electricity that would guarantee Calabar, the capital, steady power supply independent of the national grid.

The two power plants are situated at the Parliamentary Extension area of the capital and at Adiabo, on the outskirts of Calabar.

Speaking during a facility tour of the 26 megawatts gas-fired power plants at Adiabo, whose construction is nearing completion, the governor said he was delighted that “we have less than seven kilometres where we are going to do hot tapping of the gas with an eight-inch pipe and bring it across to our pipeline.”

He said: “The consistent generation of 26-megawatt from here combined with the one at Parliamentary Extension will give Cross River State almost 50mw of steady power, making Calabar the first city to be powered from an independent state source without falling back to the national grid.”

Prof. Ayade said the Parliamentary Extension power plant, a diesel power plant, was being converted to gas-fired to ensure about 70 per cent reduction in the cost of combustion of the turbines.

Hailing Skippars, the main contractors handling Adiabo plant, for a job well done and for involving local contractors in the project, the governor said he was happy the project was over 90 per cent completed with first firing demonstration scheduled for next month.

He urged Adiabo, the host community, “to realise that this project is your own, this project is for your own good.”

The governor later inspected pylon and piles factory at Akamkpa Local Government established by his administration to produce vibrated electric cables.

He described the factory “as our asset where we produce the facilities that support power generation.”