Surgeries - News Agency Of Nigeria

FG frees 1,600 women from obstetric fistula burden, says NHIA

Lydia Beshel
Sep, Mon, 2025

Health

FG frees 1,600 women from obstetric fistula burden, says NHIA

Women
By Fatima Mohammed-Lawal

No fewer than 1,600 women suffering from obstetric fistula have undergone free surgeries under the Federal Government’s National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) Fistula-Free Programme (FFP).

Dr Saka Agboola, Head of the Standards and Quality Assurance Unit at NHIA, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ilorin on Monday.

He explained that the government initiative aims to provide free surgeries, rehabilitation, and health insurance coverage for women affected by obstetric fistula.

“The government recognized that the number of fistula treatment centres in the country was very limited, which is why we have increased the number to 18 centres nationwide. Through this initiative, over 1,600 fistula cases have been successfully treated,” he said.

Agboola also noted that Nigeria is committed to improving the health outcomes of the estimated 400,000 women living with obstetric fistula by reducing maternal and neonatal mortality.

NAN reports that fistula is an abnormal opening that connects two organs or vessels that should normally be separate.

Obstetric fistula, specifically, occurs between the vagina and the bladder (vesicovaginal fistula) or the vagina and rectum (rectovaginal fistula), often resulting from prolonged labor without access to proper medical care.

Agboola said that developing countries bear the highest burden of obstetric fistula, with approximately 1 million cases globally.

He added that through this programme, patients are not only saved from physical and emotional pain but are also supported financially with coverage for feeding, transportation, and stipends.

(NAN)
Edited by Remi Koleoso/Bayo Sekoni

ICS begins 2-day surgeries to aid vulnerable Nigerians

Lydia Beshel
Jun, Tue, 2025

Health

ICS begins 2-day surgeries to aid vulnerable Nigerians

Surgeries

By Aderogba George

The International College of Surgeons (ICS), in collaboration with its Nigeria Section, on Monday commenced a two-day free surgical outreach for indigent and vulnerable Nigerians in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the outreach is part of activities marking the 58th Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference (AGM-SC) taking place from June 23 to 27.

The conference is themed “Surgical Safety in a Developing Economy: The Role of Technology and Healthcare Innovations”, with sub-themes focusing on healthcare financing models, public-private partnerships, and strategic tools for optimising surgical safety.

Dr Charles Ugwuanyi, Chief Consultant Neurosurgeon and Chairman of the Local Organising Committee, said the pre-conference surgical workshop was targeting at least 20 patients with complex medical conditions.

“These are surgeries many of them cannot afford. We’re taking on complicated cases involving anesthesia and advanced procedures.

“We want to demonstrate that ICS has the capacity to support the less privileged with life-changing interventions,” he explained.”

Dr Mandus Akonjom, Senior Consultant and Chairman of the Surgical Outreach Committee, said the college’s mission was to reach underserved populations, hence the choice of Nigeria for the conference.

“We’ve assembled a multidisciplinary team including neurosurgeons, orthopedic surgeons, urologists, plastic surgeons, gynecologists, ENT specialists, and ophthalmologists.

“Surgeries will range from brain and bone operations to eye and ENT procedures, all requiring high levels of expertise and a well-equipped environment,” he said.

Dr Uzowulu Rosemary, Specialist Anaesthesiologist, cautioned against medical tourism, noting that Nigerian doctors, even abroad, delivered world-class care due to rigorous training.

She called on Nigerians to trust local professionals and urged the government to increase investment in the health sector to stem brain drain.

“It’s not the wish of doctors to leave Nigeria. Many work tirelessly abroad under better conditions, while back home they are underpaid or owed salaries. That must change.”

NAN also reports that among the complex cases being handled is hydrocephalus in four- and seven-month-old babies, a condition involving fluid buildup in the brain, which can delay development.

The children will undergo VP shunt procedures as part of the outreach.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Abiemwense Moru

28 children benefit from KSrelief cochlear implant surgeries

Ismail Abdulaziz
Apr, Fri, 2025

Foreign

28 children benefit from KSrelief cochlear implant surgeries

By Hadiza Mohammed

The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center’s (KSrelief) volunteer medical team has performed 28 cochlear implant surgeries for children in the Republic of Kenya.

In a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday, KSrelief said the operations were successfully carried out on Saturday.

It added that speech and language rehabilitation services were also provided to the children.

In addition, 28 educational sessions for the children’s families were organised, benefiting 50 individuals.

A cochlear implant is a small, complex electronic device that can help to provide a sense of sound to a person who is profoundly deaf or severely hard-of-hearing.

The implant consists of an external portion that sits behind the ear and a second portion that is surgically placed under the skin.

An implant does not restore normal hearing. Instead, it can give a deaf person a useful representation of sounds in the environment and help him or her to understand speech.

The assistance was part of the Saudi Sama’a Volunteer Programme for cochlear implantation and auditory rehabilitation for Kenyan and Somali children in Kenya.

It include the participation of 20 volunteers from various medical specialties.

NAN reports that statistics have shown that in Kenya, 14 in every 1,000 children have moderate or severe hearing loss.

Only a very small percentage of them have access to education in sign language.

The lack of access to education hinders not only their academic progress, but also their overall social and economic development.(SPA/NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ismail Abdulaziz