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  • LUTH security officers, police manhandle The Nation reporter

    LUTH security officers, police manhandle The Nation reporter

    A reporter with The Nation Newspapers, Medinat Kanabe, was last Wednesday detained and manhandled by police posted to Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH).

    The police were aided by the hospital’s security men.

    They alleged the reporter was arrested because she didn’t take ‘proper permission’ before entering the hospital premises.

    Narrating her ordeal after her release, Kanabe said: “I went there to meet with some LUTH pensioners who hold their meetings in the hospital every month.

    “It was an opportunity to interact with them on their challenges especially as these crops of pensioners have many things in common.

    “I was discussing with them when one Akin Victor also known as Supo barged in to the venue and demanded to know what was happening there.

    “He was with the Chief Security Officer, a male and one female police officer called Faith and also known as Mama Precious.”

    She said Victor looked at her angrily and demanded to see the contents of her bag.

    But as she started to bring the items out, Victor ordered Faith to take possession of the bag and search it.

    “I explained to him that I was already bringing out the items but he got angry, walked up to me, grabbed my hands and pulled me out of the venue.

    “He then pushed me until I got to where their vehicle was parked and ordered Faith to see that I entered the vehicle.

    “I didn’t say anything. I didn’t even tell them that I am a Journalist. I just wanted to see how they would handle the situation,” Kanabe recalled.

    The reporter said when they got to security/police office in the hospital premises, Faith told her to write a statement dictated by a police officer to which she objected.

    “Faith kept pestering me to write the statement and she was doing it in a very calm manner.

    “She expected that to convince me to write what she wanted me to write but I insisted I was not writing anything so she called Victor and told him that I refused to write anything.

    Faith then told the reporter to bring out everything in her back which she did except for her ID card.

    When Victor came again, he asked the security officers to empty her bag again, which she did with her ID card discovered.

    “When they saw my ID card, Victor got angry again held my hand, squeezed it, collected my phone and demanded that I write a statement but I refused saying I will not write anything until I got permission from my office since they are aware that I was in LUTH.”

    “He then said Faith and another official- Fatima should make sure I don’t speak with anyone, not even the people in the office until I write a statement and he kept threatening to beat me up if I say anything to anyone.

    “He said he would shut my mouth for me. He and Faith called me suspect, accused, and even added that I was planning with the pensioners to bomb the hospital. At a point they said I was planning with the pensioners to carry placards against the management of the hospital.

    “I was at their office from 11.15am until 3.05pm when the PRO came to release me.

    “He said they were doing their job and that it was the practice in all federal hospitals.”

  • LUTH security officers, police manhandle The Nation reporter

    A reporter with The Nation Newspapers, Medinat Kanabe, was on Wednesday arrested, detained and manhandled by police posted to Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH). The policemen were aided by the hospital’s security men.

    According to the security officials, the reporter was arrested because she didn’t take “proper permission” before entering the hospital premises.

    Narrating her ordeal after her release, Kanabe said, “I went there to meet with some LUTH pensioners who hold their meetings in the hospital every month. It was an opportunity to meet with and interact with them on their challenges especially as these crops of pensioners have many things in common.

    “I was discussing with them when one Akin Victor also known as Supo barged into the venue and demanded to know what was happening there. He was with the Chief Security Officer, a male and one female police officer called Faith and also known as Mama Precious.”

    She said Victor looked at her angrily and demanded to see the content of her bag but as she started to bring the items out he ordered Faith to take possession of the bag and search it.

    The reporter added: “I explained to him that I was already bringing out the items but he got angry, walked up to me, grabbed my hands and pulled me out of the venue. He then pushed me until I got to where their vehicle was parked and ordered Faith to see that I entered the vehicle.

    “I didn’t say anything, I didn’t even tell them that I am a journalist; I just wanted to see how they would handle the situation.”

    Kanabe said when they got to security/police office in the hospital premises; Faith told her to write a statement and said she (the police officer) would tell her what to write but the reporter refused.

    “Faith kept pestering me to write the statement and she was doing it in a very calm manner; she expected that to convince me to write what she wanted me to write but I insisted I was not writing anything so she called Victor and told him that I refused to write anything.

    “She then started to ask me questions like, how I got into LUTH, what I came to do, how I am related to the pensioners, but I kept telling them that I am just a trader.”

    Faith then  told the reporter to bring out everything in her bag which she did except for her ID card; when Victor came again he said she should empty her bag again which she did again but this time they saw her ID card.

    “When they saw my ID card, Victor got angry again held my hand, squeezed it, collected my phone and demanded that I write a statement but I refused saying I will not write anything until I got permission from my office since they are aware that I was in LUTH.

    “He then said Faith, and another official- Fatima should make sure I don’t speak with anyone, not even the people in the office until I write a statement and he continued threatening to beat me up if I say anything to anyone. He said he would shut my mouth for me. He and Faith called me suspect, accused, and even added that I was planning with the pensioners to bomb the hospital. At a point they said I was planning with the pensioners to carry placards against the management of the hospital.

    “I was at their office from 11.15 a.m. until 3.05 p.m. when the LUTH PRO came to release me from there. He said they were doing their job and that it was the practice in all federal hospitals.”

  • Guinness Nigeria equips LUTH Eye centre

    Guinness Nigeria equips LUTH Eye centre

    Guinness Nigeria has donated a pair of slit lamps to the management of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH, in keeping with its commitment to deliver impactful social investments across the country especially in host communities.

    Slit lamps are the most frequently used and most universally applicable examination instrument in ophthalmology.Its field of application include the examination of the anterior segment of the eye including the crystalline lens and the anterior vitreous body, observation of the posterior segments  and  the  iridocorneal  angle  that  are  not visible in the direct optical path, as well as measuring intraocular pressure. They also offer a robust image processing and data management system that assists in diagnosis, record-keeping and information sharing thus providing a convenient medium for keeping track of a disease’s progress and facilitating better communication between physician and patient or between physicians.

    Global Sustainable Development Director, Diageo Plc, David Croft said the donation is in keeping with the company’s commitment to support the Guinness Eye Centres in sustenance of its original vision and to ensure that the facility remains the reference point in the provision of excellent eye care in Nigeria’s health sector.

    “At Guinness Nigeria, our vision has always been to make a positive difference in society. We believe passionately that when we help Nigerians preserve their sight, we not only deliver quality eye care but we also contribute to the socio-economic development of Nigerians. It is our hope that this gesture would enhance the capacity of the Eye Centre to serve many more Nigerians. We will strive to do more with a view to creating a healthy society that improves the overall development of the nation”.

    Chief Medical Director of LUTH, Prof Chris Bode on receiving the equipment said he was pleased with Guinness Nigeria’s involvement in sustaining the management of eye centres for over 50 years, adding that the centre would continue to deliver excellent eye care to patients. He thanked Guinness Nigeria for the timely and auspicious donation to the Centre and expressed his desire for a continued partnership.

    Croft, who is visiting Nigeria for the first time as head of Global Sustainable Development for Diageo Plc, the parent company of Guinness Nigeria, later undertook a tour of the Guinness Eye Hospital in the company of some dignitaries that included Sustainable Development Manager, Guinness Nigeria, Mr. Osita Abana, Chairman Medical Advisory committee, LUTH, Prof. Femi Fasanmade; Head, Department of Ophthalmology, LUTH, Prof. Adeola Onakoya; and a host of other consultant ophthalmologists.

    It would be recalled that the first Guinness Eye Hospital was built and commissioned in Kaduna in 1962, before the official opening of the company’s first brewery in Ikeja, Lagos. Since then, the company has established similar eye hospitals in Onitsha and Lagos. The Guinness Eye Centre Lagos, located within the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) became operational in 1992 while the Guinness Eye Centre Onitsha, Anambra State, was established in 1984 and operates under the Nnamdi Azikiwe Teaching Hospital.

  • Sickle Cell: Foundation engage community on Genotype screening

    Sickle Cell: Foundation engage community on Genotype screening

    The Sickle Cell Foundation of Nigeria (SCFN) and Ikeja Local Government Council have organised a community outreach programme to raise awareness about the importance of early genotype screening .

    Dr Annette Akinsete, National Director and CEO of the SCFN, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Lagos that it was important to know one’s genotype early enough before going into relationships.

    Sickle Cell is an inherited blood disorder common in Africa, particularly in Nigeria where one out of every four persons carries the “SS’’ gene.

    Akinsete said: “The National Sickle Cell Centre opposite LUTH, Idi- Araba, is an NGO.

    “Most of the work we do is on research but now, we want to move out to communities to engage the people where they live and work.

    “We have been to rural areas like Epe and Badagry; now we are engaging urban communities and the dynamics are so different, unlike the rural communities where we gather people under one roof, here they are very busy.

    “What we are doing is to raise awareness and at the same time, symbolically and practically get the children while they are young to know their genotype before they start going into relationships and start having children.

    “If people are informed early enough before they walk down the aisle of a church, they will make more informed decisions having known about sickle cell and its implications,’’ she said.

    Akinsete said that the programme would also offer an avenue for testing of other ailments to be conducted.

    “We are checking the genotypes of no fewer than 250 children; also, we are doing blood tests to know their blood groups.

    “We are also taking opportunity of this forum to test people for common ailments like malaria.

    “According to Lagos State policy, we do not treat for malaria until people test positive to it, we use Rapid Test Kits and we have all the medicines here.

    “We are collaborating with the Ikeja Local Government Council which has helped in mobilising its people.

    “Also, companies like Emzor Pharmaceuticals Ltd., have provided cash, test kits, needles and syringes,’’ she said.
    Akinsete lauded the efforts of the Lagos State Government in supporting the centre, especially by providing N12 million toward the establishment of a Bone Marrow Transplantation Centre.

    According to her, Bone Marrow Transplantation is a very expensive procedure and the only known cure for sickle cell in the world today.

    “Besides the Lagos State Government, we want to call on the Federal Government, other states and organisations to support us in this project.

    “We need funding to move forward even for treatment; a child with sickle cell needs daily treatment to prevent malaria and infections that can kill them early.

    “We have partnership with the MTN Foundation; they provide us with medicines in our clinics free,’’ she said.

    Mr Abass Akinwunmi-Lateef, the Secretary of Ward Health Committees in Ikeja, said that such enlightenment programmes would help to improve the knowledge and  health of people in “not-so-elite’’ communities.

    “It is always my joy bringing a programme like this to my community.

    “The turnout has been massive and I urge the foundation to organise this programme again,’’ he said.

    Also, Dr Ajibola Sanders of the SCFN, described Sickle Cell Disorder as a blood disorder that occurs when two carriers or persons with AS genotype procreate children with SS genotype.

    According to him, Nigeria as a country has the highest number of persons with sickle cell all over the world.

    He said: “It is estimated that over 150 000 babies are born with sickle cell each year and over 40 million Nigerians have this  gene, thereby making Nigeria the country with the highest number of sickle cell patients.

    “Also, in Nigeria, 100,000 babies die of this disorder every year’’.

    He said that the early symptoms of sickle cell disorder included swellings of the hands and the feet alongside fever in children between the ages of six months and two years.

    According to him, this is called the hand and foot syndrome.

    “Other symptoms include pains in various parts of the body, arms, back, shoulders, chest and yellow eyes, which are known as jaundice.

    “This is because of the short life span of the red blood cells in people with the disorder.

    “For people between the ages of two and 16 years, seizures, paralysis or even death may occur as a result of stroke which can be a manifestation of sickle cell disorder.

    “Also, leg ulcers, which are injuries around the ankles and legs which do not heal, are all parts of the discomforts associated with the disorder,’’ he said.

    A beneficiary of the outreach, Mrs Mary Igbo, who is a mother of three, commended the foundation for the gesture.

    She urged other well-meaning organisations and the government to organised more related programmes, to ease the suffering of people.

     

  • Suicide: LUTH launches hotlines, support group

    The Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) has initiated two help programmes to contain the rising cases of suicide in the country.

    According to the Chief Medical Director, Prof Chris Bode, suicide is preventable, but there is a lack of prevention strategies in most countries, including Nigeria. Consequently, LUTH has initiated a suicide prevention service called the Suicide Research and Prevention Initiative (SURPIN) and Staff Emotional Care Services (SECS).

    He stated this while unveiling the initiatives in Lagos.

    Bode said the events of the past few days had further underscored the need to commence these services immediately. The numbers to call are: 09080217555, 09034400009, 08111909909 and 07013811143.

    He said people should feel free to walk into any hospital and be seen by psychiatrists; “it is normal and not out of place. They are trained to help people live a normal life. Nobody should be stigmatised fordoing that.”

    He said it was hoped the programmes would help save lives and prevent death by suicide, locally and nationally.

    “We shall be collaborating with all relevant agencies to ensure that the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) goal of reducing suicide by 20 per cent by 2020 is achieved. Suicide cannot be eradicated in the country but it can be prevented with the right strategies put in place.’

    Consultant psychiatrist (Consultation-liaison Psychiatry/Emergency Psychiatry), LUTH and Coordinator, SURPIN/SECS, Dr. Raphael E. Ogbolu, said people give up when they are overwhelmed and cannot see any hope, “but in that moment of desperation and utter hopelessness, what people need is a listening ear and support to help them choose to live on. Many of those who are so saved have come to thank God they did not take their lives. This is why we must keep trying to reach them, especially at that moment by encouraging them to speak up and not feel ashamed. Stop seeing people who sleep all day long as being lazy. That is a phase of depression. Engage them in meaningful discussions and give them hope through word of encouragement,” said Dr Ogbolu.

    Consultant Psychiatrist, LUTH/ Senior Lecturer, College of medicine (CMUL) Prof Yewande Oshodi said religious leaders do play certain roles in the scheme of suicide prevention and there is the need to ensure adequate information, especially of encouragement is given out , “In our clime people find solace, encouragement and hope in religious places. Worshippers with depression who intend to commit suicide can be counseled back to life. That a person attempted a suicide once should not be brushed aside but closely monitored and receive support from experts,” said Oshodi.

  • Beware of dog bites, Lagos warns

    Beware of dog bites, Lagos warns

    The Lagos State Ministry of Health has warned that the public should be wary of rabies, especially in dogs.
    Pet owners, especially dogs  were asked  to get them vaccinated – The first dose at three months, booster dose at one year; and subsequently every three years.
    It also warned that all cases of dog bites must be reported, investigated and the victim adequately treated.
    The Commissioner of Health, Lagos State Dr Jide Idris gave the warning  on Thursday while announcing cases of rabies that were admitted at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi Araba.
    Dr Idris said two cases of rabies happened within two weeks and both were admitted at LUTH.
    He said: “The first case was that of a 49 year old male living at Igbogbo in Ikorodu. He was bitten by his three months old dog that was earlier bitten by a new dog he bought six weeks before the incident. The two dogs were observed to be behaving abnormally and then killed. The patient was admitted at LUTH on the 8th of this month and died within a few hours of admission.
    “The second case was that of a 33-year-old male living in Ajara Badagry. The patient presented at LUTH on March Nineth with a history of restlessness, agitation, hydrophobia and aerophobia. The patient was given Tetanus Toxoid after the bite and the dog was killed. The patient died on the 13th of this month.”
    Dr Idris said it is good to educate the public that rabies is a disease caused by the rabies virus of the Lyssa genus but it is is a vaccine preventable viral disease which occurs in more than 150 countries.
    Rabies is one of the 17 major neglected tropical diseases and it occurs mainly in the poor vulnerable populations whose deaths are rarely reported and where human vaccines and immunogbobulin are not readily available or accessible.
    It is 99.9 percent fatal. Children between the ages of five and fourteen are very vulnerable to dying of rabies because of their frequent interactions with dogs and their small size.
    “People are usually infected following a deep bite or scratch by an infected animal. More than 99 percent of human rabies is caused by dog bites while other mammals such as bats, foxes and raccoons can transmit rabies to humans. It affects the central nervous system and is transmitted through the saliva and nervous tissue of an infected animal,” Dr Idris stated.
    He said once a dog bites anybody First aid measure should be administered.
    The first treatment involves immediate and thorough flushing and washing of the wound for a minimum of 15 minutes with soap and water, detergent, providone iodine or other substances that kill the rabies virus. 
    “Post-exposure prophylaxix (PEP) vaccines should be given to the victim on 0, 3, 7, 14 and 28 days of the incidence at a registered health facility which are given,” Dr Idris said.
  • LUTH acquires new lab equipment for outpatients

    LUTH acquires new lab equipment for outpatients

    The Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) has separated its out-patient laboratory from the in-patient. This is to ensure faster release of   tests’ results and save patients from trekking from the Outpatient Department (OPD) to the general laboratory on the fourth floor of the Female Ward.

    At the inauguration of the laboratory, the Chief Medical Director (CMD), Prof Chris Bode, said  LUTH acquired the Architect C-4000 machinefor faster service for outpatients.The machine has been    has installed in the new lab at the Accident and Emergency Unit (Out Patient Department (OPD) building.

    A representative of the supplier, Abbot Diagnostic Company, Clement Mark, said the machine gives 800 tests per hour – 400 pictometric tests and 400 electrolyte tests. These, he said, cut across all parameters, which include liver function tests, kidney function test, glucose profile and many other analyses.

    Mark said the machine is equipped with a Processing Module (PM), with a system monitor that is connected to a System Control Unit, which works by feeding a unit in the machine called Analyser with samples. He said a system called Probes picks the sample, mixes it with the reagent in another compartment of the machine, allows it to incubate for a while and the result displayed on the monitor and then prints out for the doctors’ use.

    Mark said the equipment processes samples and produces results within four to 10 minutes, depending on the protocol.

    Head of Department of Haematology and Blood Transfusion, LUTH, Dr. Titilope Adeyemo, said the hospital would also run haematological tests – full blood count, which she noted is vital for every patient that comes to the hospital.

    Prof Bode said the equipment was one of the efforts of the hospital  to make the hospital a one-stop-shop for patients.

  • Eight-month-old boy needs N3.5m for heart surgery

    Eight-month-old boy needs N3.5m for heart surgery

    An eight-month-old boy, Mubarak Jaiyesimi, an outpatient on a fortnightly appointment with Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) Idi Araba, Lagos now lives on compound drugs; his hospital number is 671632.

    Jaiyesimi, who was born on May 25th, 2016, was barely two weeks old when it was discovered that his breathing was not normal and he was initially taken to a private hospital in Ikorodu, Lagos where he was referred to another private hospital on Victoria Island, Lagos on June 23rd, 2016 with Hospital Number 142783 and later Dr. Imam referred him to Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi-Araba, Lagos on August 2nd, 2016. At first, he was placed on admission and later outpatient on fortnightly appointment till date.

    According to the Consultant Paediatrician, Prof. C.A.N. Okoromah’s summary of Jaiyesimi Mubarak’s medical report dated October 28th, 2016 it reveals that the boy has Symptomatic Congenital Heart Disease which was confirmed by Echocardiography to consist of Large Per Membranous Ventricular Septic Defect, Patent Ductus Arterial Hypertension with good Biventricular Function in Down’s Syndrome.

    Baby JaiyesimiUnfortunately, she said that Mubarak requires further cardiovascular evaluation and open heart surgery to correct his hearts defects in order to forestall irreversible and life-threatening complications; “that, for this to be carried out, it would require nothing less than N3.5M with the present rate of Dollar to Naira.” She added.

    The parents of the boy are Lagosians living at 7, Owolowo Street, Ojubode Area, Ikorodu with Mubarak’s two senior brothers 14 and 11yrs old.

    The father of the boy, Abayomi Jaiyesimi (08097762585, 09076349502) 40years old, works in a private company with irregular take home as a driver who earns a meagre salary.

    His mother, Monsurat Jaiyesimi (08168415370, 08184420943) 38years old, is a caterer by profession working for somebody on daily pay and since the detection of her son’s devastating ill health, things have never been the same again.

    According to Monsurat and her husband, life has become unbearable to them as they have exhausted their savings on the medication and series of Laboratory tests carried out on the boy.

    “Means to raise the said amount for the quick surgical intervention for his survival has become a problem hence, the need to appeal to every well-meaning, good spirited and open-handed individuals, philanthropists, corporate bodies, NGOs and religious leaders for their financial assistance.

    “Your passion, care and contribution shall never be in vain, our fervent prayer is that may the Almighty God bless you abundantly for your labour of love. Amen.”

    Please send your widow’s mite to:

    Bank Name: Diamond Bank

    Account Number: 0087458674

    Account Name: Jaiyesimi Mubarak Anuoluwapo

  • LUTH: Nurses protest non-payment of teaching allowances, others

    LUTH: Nurses protest non-payment of teaching allowances, others

    Nurses and Midwives at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba, on Wednesday staged a one-day peaceful protest to demand the non-payment of their teaching allowances by the Federal Government.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the protest was a directive from the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) to all Federal Health Institutions in the country.

    NAN also reports that the protest was led by the NANNM executive, while nurses were also seen singing and carrying placards around the premises.

    The placards with various inscriptions read; “Federal Ministry of Health pay us our teaching allowance’’, “Stop stagnation’’, “Nurses are professionals that should be respected and not treated as slaves.’’

    Mrs Yemisi Adelaja, Chairman of the association, LUTH chapter told newsmen in Lagos that the protest was to again bring to the attention of the Federal Government the plight and suffering of Nigerian nurses.

    According to Adelaja, the deteriorating state of infrastructure, non availability of adequate medical consumables are situations that have progressively gone worse in recent times.

    He listed some of their demands to include discriminatory and selective implementation of policies by the Federal Ministry of Health on career progression for nurses and midwives.

    “Most of our health institutions today operate a nurse-patient ratio of one to 15 as against the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) recommendation of one to four.

    “Inadequate manpower and dearth of highly skilled nurses specialist has greatly affected our clinical outputs and nurses health.

    “If the workload is on the nurses, it will definitely affect the patient’s health, because most times this affects the attitude of nurses due to pressure.

    “There are also cases of non-payment of promotion arrears and recommendation of teaching allowances of members on CONHESS seven to eight by most Medical Directors,’’ she said.

    The chairman, however, called on the Federal Government to prevail on the Federal Ministry of Health, its allies in the Federal Ministry of Labour and the IPPIS office to intervene.

    She said that their intervention would spare the country another round of industrial action which was capable of affecting the nation’s health sector.

    Mrs Fatima Shittu, the Secretary of the association, also called on the Federal Government to release all allocations meant for equipment and consumables, as this was becoming a major challenge.

    “Government should ensure that they monitor how money allocated to the ministry of health is being disbursed.

    “If funds are judiciously managed, our nation will become the centre of medical tourism and will take its right of place among the comity of nations on healthcare delivery,’’ she said.

  •  New vista as LUTH trains biomedical engineers

     New vista as LUTH trains biomedical engineers

    AS the country joined the world to welcome the New Year, a new vista has opened in the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi Araba Lagos State.

    Some members of staff of some of the departments and units have vowed to do everything to ensure patients received the best of medical care, no matter the cost.

    In the circumstances, the School of Biomedical Engineering has trained 18 members of staff of the Biomedical Engineering Unit. They were trained by the General Electric Biomedical engineers. They also vowed to ensure they save patients by saving vital medical equipment.

    The Programme Director, Prof. Carmel Walker told those graduating from the school that they should not rest on their oars but to break new grounds in their chosen career.

    Prof. Walker said they had been given the tool of knowledge, which is the greatest of all tools to complete their task in the health sector.

    “You do not study to pass the test, you study to prepare for the day when you are the only thing standing between a patient and the grave. Be open to life-long learning. Science and Technology are changing and you will need to keep it up. Don’t be afraid to admit your knowledge gaps and seek to fill them.

    “Innovations are often initiated by creative minds, so think outside of the box. Make your voice heard. Be professional, competent and compassionate in everything you do. Don’t underestimate the impacts you can make,” she said.

    Prof. Walker reminded them of Nelson Mandela’s quote: “What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we live.”

    Encouraging them to look beyond what they encounter, she said: “Never give up; always go back to what you know. And most importantly, work together; leave no one behind for you are a team. Show your value, prove your worth and make a statement not just in your words but also in your actions.”

    The Chief Medical Director (CMD) Prof. Chris Bode said it was gladdening that LUTH is still strong and playing a lead role in the business of saving lives. He said the 18 members of staff are the second-class that has graduated from the Biomedical Engineering Training Programme at LUTH and he could not be more proud.

    On the important role the engineers will play in the hospital, Prof. Chris said: “I need to express my happiness at the graduation ceremony and award of certificates to the graduates who were trained at the School of Biomedical Engineering, LUTH, organised and sponsored by General Electric Foundation (GEF) in affiliation with Duke University, USA. The initiative of GEF and the impact it will bring in the country’s medical system is profound.

    “Nigeria was rife with medical equipment bought and used for few months, a year or two and maybe, a fuse or something minor happens to it, and they were parked. With the culture of wastage we have, people are encouraged to go and buy new ones and we end up with a lot of dead equipment.

    “Now, when we don’t even have the money, it is only wise that we have trained manpower that will undertake simple maintenance and repairs of medical equipment to give us longer uptime and very little downtime. This saves lives and money and everybody benefits from it. The era of medical equipment being abandoned or discarded because of minor faults is now over.”

    Prof. Bode said he had the dream about a Biomedical Engineering Training programme and the conviction was great that he had to commission a new training structure to be built without the programme yet in place.

    “General Electric Foundation also realised the need for a better training and skills for Biomedical Engineers and looked to Engineering World Health for help. The dream for a biomedical Engineering Training Programme in Nigeria has been in the making for over 18 years. The participants are trained by the best in their fields and I am convinced that their education, through this programme, surpassed all that they thought they knew.”

    He said the hospital would admit people from other hospitals/facilities that needed to be trained because, “Prof. Kazeem Olusola birthed the vision to have Biomedical Engineering training Programme in federal schools for the training of Biomedical Engineers in Nigeria. His cries and recommendations to help improve health care through medical equipment in Nigeria, was the basis for his inaugural lecture in 1998 at the University of Lagos,” Prof. Bode said.

    Prof. Walker rwe-echoed this and said the graduates are the change that took place 18 years ago. “Change certainly does promote change. I believe Prof. Olusola did more than arouse an admiration for this profession of Biomedical Engineering. I believe that Prof. Olusola did more than arouse an admiration for this profession of Biomedical Engineering. I believe he clearly pointed out the need for this profession in health care by showing how, through saving equipment, biomedical engineers can save lives,” Prof Walker said.