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Tag: LUTH

  • LUTH graduates 18 biomedical engineers

    LUTH graduates 18 biomedical engineers

    Eighteen General Electric biomedical engineers have graduated from the Biomedical Training Centre of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH).

      The biomedical training centre was refurbished and equipped by GE Foundation to train and build a sustainable pipeline of qualified medical engineers for the Healthcare system in Nigeria.

    This is in fulfillment of its commitment to work with other stakeholders in developing a new Biomedical Equipment Training (BMET) project in Nigeria to address the need for locally qualified medical technicians to repair and service biomedical equipment.  Executive Director of GE Foundation, David Barash, congratulated the graduants for staying through the course. He said the completion of their programme is a good start in increasing the overall life span of medical equipment in Nigeria.

    Managing Director, Nigeria, Pamela Hall said: “We are pleased to collaborate with the Ministry of Health to address the challenges of Capacity Building in Nigeria.”

    Chief Medical Director of LUTH Prof Christopher Bode thanked GE for the initiative and promised that the management of LUTH will ensure that more biomedical engineers are produced.

  • LUTH gets diagnostic equipment to ease child birth

    LUTH gets diagnostic equipment to ease child birth

    The Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi Araba has taken delivery of a 128-Slice Computed Tomography (CT) scanner for paediatric imaging. The equipment donated by JNCI (Turnkey Medical Equipment Services) will  boost child care in the tertiary hospital.

    The scanner, the latest in the CT scanners range, is revolutionising non-invasive diagnosis. The machine can scan the whole body in seconds and provide incredibly sharp 3D images of any organ.

    The scanner’s ability to spot small tumours, in a check on the lungs for example, or plaque in the case of cardiovascular disease, makes it the preferred option for diagnosis by doctors worldwide.

    The equipment can be used for cancer diagnosis and treatment. The speed and precision of this scanner not only improves the image quality, but also allows experts to look at dynamic processes. Instead of just monitoring changes in tumor size, they can watch the perfusion of a contrast agent as it moves toward, around and through a tumor. This can provide an early view of how a patient is responding to therapy. The 128-Slice CT is one of the most important methods of radiological diagnosis. It delivers non-superimposed, cross-sectional images of the body, which can show smaller contrast differences than conventional X-ray images. This allows better visualisation of specific differently structured soft-tissue regions, for example, which could otherwise not be visualised satisfactorily.

    The donour, JNCI said it made the donation so as to help reduce infant deaths. Its representative, JNCI Managing Director, Mrs Clarie Omatseye said the organisation was able to install the machine for advanced diagnostic treatment and studies in LUTH based on the success story recorded at Elkhart General Hospital Radiology Department, Us.

    Mrs Omatseye said: “The machine can scan the outer part of the brain, abdomen and cardiac area. This is the most advanced CT in Lagos State at the moment. We were motivated by the passion to diagnose diseases early enough. It does not stop there as the technology has been particularly exciting for studying the beating heart, providing the first clear non-invasive images of the heart and its major vessels. The scans can be timed to use only images gathered between contractions, so that the heart and its vessels can be seen without the blurring caused by motion.’

    She assured on its functionality, accessibility and importantly, affordability, “The machine is not disastrous because it has special protocol for children and the radiation is controlled. The cost we will be asking for children is even at half price, there is 50 per cent reduction for all children. Some of our staff will be here to work hand in hand with the hospital staff. We did the installation and we can guarantee that it won’t breakdown, either to power shortage or mishandling.”

    “There are three levels of power supply to the machine- the National grid, hospital generator, and dedicated generators to the 128-Slice CT. On-line medical grid UPS (Uninterrupted Power Supply) i.e 160 KVA with 101 Battery backup are put up. The On-line medical grid will deliver constant online waves, in addition it has internal regulator to checkmate any fluctuation from the hospital generator or from the national grid. That will protect the breakdown that can damage the equipment. The Online Medical grid will help to supply energy to the 128-Slice CT for up to two days should anything happen to any of the three levels or all of the three levels of power supply. That means any patient that is booked for the day can still be attended to. We did this because there were issues with the maintenance of the other CT scan, such as uninterruptible power supply (UPS) and generating set. Besides, we want to make sure that we are 99 per cent on time anytime there is an issue which the CT. The machine could break down from time to time but I hope that LUTH in view of the patients have a great response time,” she said.

    Head of Department (HOD), Radio-diagnosis, LUTH, Dr Kofoworola Soyeb, said the JNCI installation of  the First 128 slide CT scan in the hospital by JNCI is in order as it coincides with  the International Day of Radiology (IDOR) and that will help to reduce infant deaths.

    According to her, the Radiology Department is interested in rays that can produce excellently what ordinary eyes cannot see. Moreover, “we now know about how to use contrast to study some part of the body. We are targeting a Low-Dose Centre of Excellence for computed tomography (CT). The scanner will be fully digitalised and the patient image/examination data will be fully integrated in the Hospital’s picture achieving communications system. The 128-slice CT scanner possesses the ability to provide CT angiography and CT cerebral perfusion imaging services. The use of 128- slice CT scanner to diagnose a patient with coronary heart disease can decrease unnecessary admissions to the Hospital and decrease the length of stay for those admitted to the hospital. The scanner will help reduce the number of unnecessary angiography studies.’

    Dr Soyebi said: “We are unveiling the CT scan and letting the world know what we are capable of doing. We want to be able to proffer solutions to whatever comes to the Radiology Department. X-ray did not stop at being x-ray, it has always been improving. Now, we have  Computerised Tomography (CT) scan, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), ultrasound and others at LUTH.”

    Head, LUTH Pediatrics Department, Prof Edamisan Temiye said radio-diagnosis is one of the greatest achievements of medicine.

    This, he said, has improved the care and outcome of childhood diseases, adding that imaging can be used for pseudoachondroplasia and rare rhizomes.

    Temiye said with this equipment, radiologists are given the direction they should go.

    President, National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria, Prof Rasheed Arogundade, said the donation held on International Radiation Day is novel, “event is for remembrance of the discovery of radiology which marked the beginning of medical imaging. The person who discovered the X-ray was not a radiologist so there should be no rivalry among practitioners instead we should all be celebrating. As practitioners, we should work toward the well-being of patients. We should think about patients first.”

    Consultant Radiologist, Dr Bukola Omidiji said children are the wealth of the nation.

    The parents, she said, would miss a lot of work hours when their children took ill.

    Omidiji, who spoke on the Diagnostic Radiologist’s perspective said, pediatric radiology starts from when the child is in the womb of the mother.

    “A paediatric radiologist should work with the diagnostic team and the parents of the children. I urged radiologists to assist in the selection of appropriate imaging X-ray. Ultrasound does not give ionizing radiation, so it is the best for the children. The way LUTH radiology department is right now is not too conducive for childcare; there is no dedicated space for children. Some radiology departments play music to engage the children from getting frightened,’ she said.

  • LUTH consultant dies

    LUTH consultant dies

    THE Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi Araba, was thrown into mourning yesterday, following  the death of a Consultant Paediatric Surgeon, Dr Hestianna Thomas.

    Her death was discussed in hushed tone by workers.

    The mother of two is believed to be a victim of domestic violence.

    Some women described her as a compassionate doctor who helped saved their children’s lives.

    The Nation gathered that the late Dr Thomas, whose husband is a Consultant Clinical Pathologist at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja, reported for duty three days ago, until she was brought in yesterday to LUTH battered.

    A source said: “A close examination of her body revealed a lot of lacerations.

    “In fact, I noticed that the head had a deep cut. When other colleagues also saw her, they said there was a deep cut on her skull, because they saw pierced bone.

    “Her colleagues, especially the female doctors, were stunned when Dr Thomas was rushed in.”

  • LUTH trains Ghanaians, others on keyhole surgery

    The Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) has begun the training of surgeons from Nigeria and other West African countries on the application of Laparoscopic surgery – a minimally invasive/keyhole procedure.

    Its Chief Medical Director (CMD), Prof Christopher Bode, said Nigeria has what it takes to train surgeons to perform complex surgeries with advanced technology, such as Laparoscopy.

    Bode spoke at the Second International Workshop on Core Skill in Laparoscopic Surgery, organised by LUTH in conjunction with the Nigerian Society of Laparoscopic Surgeons (NISOLS), at the hospital Surgical Skill Centre. He said the procedure is the future of surgery.

    Bode said Nigerians seeking specialised care, especially surgery, need not travel abroad as the facilities and manpower are available in the country.

    “There are five Laparoscopic machines. I will put my life in the hands of our surgeons because they are capable. We will improve and do better in surgical procedures,” he said.

    He said surgeons must believe they can help solve surgical problems and restore hope to patients.

    “The price of Laparoscopic procedure in our hospital is the same as that of normal surgery,” he said.

    The main challenge, he said, is power. But, by next month, LUTH would have solved the problem with its independent/alternative power generation.

    Marketing Director, Covidier/ Medronic, Europe Middle East and Africa (EMEA), United States, Mr John Monroe, said the future of Laparoscopic surgery is bright in Nigeria. Moreover, Nigeria is very important to us.

    “So we will help to expand the horizon for minimally invasive surgery in Nigeria,” he said.

    President of NISOLS Dr Jimmy Cocker said Nigeria has industry, enthusiasm and patients, saying: “All these will make the procedure a success”.

    There is a clear structure in place, adding that surgeons are not alone. They can share their knowledge and experience with resident doctors and colleagues, Bode added.

    A Ghanaian general surgeon at the Military Hospital, Accra, Dr Nabil Nuamah, pleaded with Nigeria to open its door to other countries, especially in the region, to access training at the centre.

    He reiterated the readiness of his country to team up with Nigerian surgeons to build the capacity to perform the procedure.

    According to him, there is the need for West Africa to have a common training centre to develop surgical practice.

    He thanked Nigeria for taking the lead in building capacity in Laparoscopic procedure.

  • LUTH reopens IVF clinic

    LUTH reopens IVF clinic

    The Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi Araba, has revived its Assisted Reproductive Clinic. It folded up in the 90s due to lack of funding. Now known as LUTH Assisted Fertility Clinic (AFC), the duo of Professors Osato Giwa-Osagie and Oladapo Ashiru, pioneered the clinic that produced the first test tube baby in Nigeria in March 1986. They both were at  the event, glowing with pride.

    Going down memory lane, Prof Giwa-Osagie said the clinic through its IVF programme treated 20 patients between 1984 and 1994, “but we could not sustain it because of lack of institutional and government support.

    Thereafter, the IVF services in Nigeria were largely made available by the private hospital. LUTH IVF clinic, according to him, “was the first in West, East and Central Africa.  Only Egypt and South Africa were the two African countries that had it before Nigeria in IVF history.”

    Prof Giwa-Osagie said the full commencement of IVF services at LUTH had to wait for the ideal environment to be provided by the management. The perfect environment include sterile atmosphere for the laboratory and theatre; tiling of the laboratory and theatre; design of fee structure; acquisition of modern equipment; dedicated workforce and recruitment of patients.

    The hospital, he said, is setting a goal of producing not less than 200 babies through IVF per annum.  “I am proud that this is coming to be as there is no short cut in life. Good legacies are built through perseverance, consistency and determination. The reopening of this clinic put history in the right perspective.

    “This marks a return of IVF where it started in West Africa. We are set to charge lesser price than what obtains in the private sector. There are now about 45 IVF centres in the country,” he said.

    Prof A shiru was beside himself with joy and said international standard should be maintained in the clinic and it “includes training of embryologists, who will be certified and willing to train other embryologists.  Success of IVF is in the laboratory. “World Health Organisation (WHO) standard should be brought back here, including documentation,” he said.

    LUTH’s Chief Medical Director (CMD), Prof Chris Bode, said the clinic will make IVF service affordable, accessible and available, “As this is a foremost institution of excellence and we have the experts here that get things done,” he said.

  • NMA shouldn’t hijack LUTH, says CMD

    The management of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) yesterday appealed to the Lagos branch of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) and Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) not to run the hospital aground.

    The Chief Medical Director (CMD), Prof Chris Bode, at a briefing in Lagos, said the groups were meddling in the hospital’s affairs.

    But the NMA and resident doctors alleged that the CMD used security agents to harass  workers; that the management refused to pay the arrears of emoluments of doctors, such as examination fee, update course fee and promotion arrears, among others.

    They alleged that the hospital stopped the deducted union dues payable to doctors’ association by their members (ARD LUTH).

    But Bode debunked the allegations, saying some NMA and ARD members had personal scores to settle.

    He warned doctors to shun strikes and other activities  inimical to the hospital’s progress.

    The CMD said resident doctors need a change of attitude as “no doctor would be paid for job not done”.

    The Lagos NMA chairman, Dr Tope Ojo, advised the CMD to vacate his position because he has attained the mandatory age of retirement.

     

     

  • LUTH excites patients

    LUTH excites patients

    On a recent visit to the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) Our Reporter  writes about the encounter.

    The Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) Idi-Araba, Lagos is calm in a way that contrasted sharply with the picture of crisis and intimidation of workers being painted in the media by the LUTH branch of Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) and the Lagos branch of Nigeria Medical Association (NMA).

    The two have been calling for the sack of the Chief Medical Director (CMD), Professor Chris Bode. However, a Senior Lecturer and Consultant, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that there are actually a few disgruntled unionists in the hospital who are kicking against some reforms and policies introduced by the CMD.

    According to the consultant, “There is no crisis in LUTH in the real sense of the word. What is really happening is that some hospital workers don’t do their jobs, and they delegate duties to their junior colleagues and trainees while they run their private affairs.” He added that the new CMD is saying, “if you don’t work you don’t get paid. Of course, that didn’t go well with them.”

    “Not only that some of the ARDs who are supposed to be on training, also do private practice outside and they love to go on strike at every little opportunity. Everyone knows the new CMD has zero tolerance for strikes and sharp practices that have given medical practice a bad name. He believed that too many patients have lost their lives during strikes because we don’t seem to care.”

    Akinola Bello, an administrative staff said the hospital has witnessed massive improvements “Before now, most CMDs who are doctors, only took care of their colleagues. But Prof. Bode has given everybody a sense of belonging. He even has the courage to tell his colleagues, his own constituency, that if they don’t work, they won’t get paid. All other groups have taken a cue from this and will not go on strike anytime soon. We know that most CMDs are scared of moving against these groups because once you do, they either call for your removal or embark on strike.”

    New ways of doing things

    Incidentally, a staff of the institution agreed that it has witnessed quite some growth. These include the establishment and construction of the Surgical Skills Training Centre wherein training of surgical procedures, medical procedures and other trainings are routinely done. “The centre is a world class where people from all over the world hold training programmes.”

    Another staff  Bola Oseni said,  “LUTH is now a leading centre for international and regional collaborations in various training programmes that attract eminent specialists who come to Nigeria to transfer their skills to our own trainers and trainees in Dentistry, laparoscopy, endoscopy, pediatric surgery and many other disciplines.”

    Oseni said the biggest project done so far by the new CMD is the construction of the 3.48mw gas-powered generation plant which will provide uninterrupted power supply to the institution and its surrounding communities.

    The CMD could not be reached for comments. However, from a glimpse of his thoughts from a recent lecture, he had said “Appropriate legislation is the only thing that can mitigate all these unnecessary strike actions. If we, as Nigerians, say from now on, healthcare, an essential service, should only be a sector where those employed by government cannot go on strike. If we make such legislation, only those that have interest will remain to serve the taxpayers.”

    Chairman of the Lagos NMA, Dr. Tope Ojo, recently alleged “intimidation of workers, non-payment of arrears” by the new CMD. He cited the case of a Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, identified as Dr. K.S. Okunade whom he said was maltreated and called for Bode’s retirement, saying he was past the mandatory age of retirement.

  • Missing person? Check with LUTH

    Missing person? Check with LUTH

    The management of Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi Araba has appealed to members of the public looking for a missing person to check on a patient in its custody.

    The 16 year old unidentified female patient, who has been described as Jane Doe was brought to the Accident and Emergency Centre of the Hospital by the police who claimed she was a destitute.

    A statement signed by the Head, Corporate Services, K. O. Otuneme stated, “The Management is using this medium to appeal to members of the public who may be looking for a relation (female) to visit the Lagos University Teaching Hospital for identification.

    “Enquiries should be directed to the Corporate Services Division, 2nd Floor, Accident and Emergency Building, LUTH, Idi – Araba  or call 08070591395).”

  • Resident doctors at LUTH suspend strike

    Resident doctors at LUTH suspend strike

    The Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idiaraba, yesterday suspended its strike after a congress decision.

    This is contained in a statement by Dr Ramon Moronkola, the association’s president in Lagos.

    According to Moronkola, the decision was based on appeals by Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, a former president; elders of the profession; civil society groups; and other Nigerians.

    The statement said work would resume at 8 a.m. today.

    “The Association of Resident Doctors, Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), hereby suspends her ongoing strike action by congress decision.

    “It is our hope that the hospital’s management will reciprocate this gesture by adhering to the terms of agreement.

    “This should be by ensuring smooth implementation of the Federal Government’s directive on the adjusted grade level, amongst other local issues, which have lingered for too long.

    “While we reaffirm the legitimacy of our demands, we appreciate members of the public who were the direct victims of this impasse for their understanding and constructive criticism.

    “We hereby call on the Federal Government to institute a probe into the immediate and remote cause(s) of this seemingly recurrent crisis in the health sector in a bid to putting an end to it.

    “This particular strike could have been averted since. This is because the Federal Government, through a circular from the Office of the Head of Civil Service, issued on the Dec. 19, 2013, adequately addressed the issue,’’ the statement said.

    On Monday, June 29, the ARD of LUTH commenced an indefinite strike over working conditions at the hospital.

  • LUTH disowns strike

    LUTH disowns strike

    LAGOS University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) management has denied involvement in the on-going industrial action by its doctors.

    The Chief Medical Director (CMD), Prof Chris Bode, said it is not within the  hospital’s power to pay the skipping allowance being demanded by the resident doctors.

    “Ours is to prepare the payroll and send to the appropriate authority. It is really a surprise that despite the fact that the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA); Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN); Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) at the national level and other notable bodies have stepped in and given directives to the doctors to call off the strike, the resident doctors are adamant.”

    The CMD said despite the strike, the hospital has not shut down services.

    “It is understandable that services won’t be as rapid as it used to be, patients have to wait a little longer, and major surgeries are being rescheduled as well.”

    He noted that the hospital has attended to 300 patients, including those on admission, since the strike began on June 29.

    “There is no minister or committee to look into their issue now. So, I’ll advise them to the Federal Government more time. The issue will be resolved  soon.”