ASHENEWS reports that the Niger state Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago is elated over the successful first neurological and knee surgeries conducted by the IBB Specialist Hospital, Minna.
A team of surgeons led by Consultant Neurosurgeon Dr Uthman Uthman successfully performed its first brain surgery on a 19-year-old boy who had sustained a severe brain injury and skull fracture during a road crash.
Another team of surgeons led by Orthopedic Surgeons Abdullahi Mohammad and Mustapha Ibrahim also performed its first total knee replacement surgery after many decades on a 65-year-old woman with bilateral advanced osteoarthritis of the knee.
Bago applauded the medical team of the IBB Specialist Hospital Minna for this feat, describing the development as a milestone achievement in the health sector in the state and a breakthrough in his administration.
He restated his administration’s desire to continue to revamp and improve the health sector to provide effective medical services of all kinds to the citizenry and end foreign medical trips.
The Governor also commended the Management of the IBB Specialist Hospital Minna, under the leadership of the Chief Medical Director, Dr. Bala Waziri for the significant milestone achieved and reassured that his administration will continue to provide all the necessary support that will take the health institution to greater heights.
The Consultant Neurosurgeon, Dr Uthman Uthman, who performed the brain surgery, said that he and his team decided to embark on the surgery to give back to the state and to show that such surgeries can be done in the state.
“I have noticed that a lot of varying neurologic surgical cases get referred from Niger State to us in Abuja, especially the emergencies which mostly arrive late; like traumatic brain injuries, strokes and spinal cord injuries.
“Some of these people may pass away before obtaining care or become complicated. There are also cases like brain tumours who come to us late and helpless.
“The absence of neurocritical care and a neurological surgeon in Niger state has contributed to the preventable and salvageable high morbidity and mortality from these cases. As a surgeon who hails from Niger State, this is part of our efforts to give back to the state,“ he said.
