One of the potential successes of the coordinating minister for Health and Social Welfare (CMHSW), Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, resides in the recent decision by the Federal government to upgrade health sector infrastructure by providing advanced equipment in multiple health facilities in the country.
By Salisu Dambatta
Making it a reality will certainly enhance the positive reputation of the CMHSW as a goal-getter, reduce foreign health tourism, and perhaps encourage doctors by improving Nigeria’s health sector, to consider emigrating to stay at home.
The decision to equip the health sector by providing facilities, is especially notable because it incorporated the provision of two cardiac catheterization laboratories (Cath Lab), one each for the Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto, and the University College Hospital, Ibadan. Other diagnostic and intervention radiology and clinical pathology equipment are also in the package for the two hospitals.
When or if the two promised cardiac catheterization laboratories are procured and installed in the two teaching hospitals, Nigeria will have four such vital tools in the healthcare provision system. This is a step forward given the uses and functions of Cath Labs.
Experts say that the functions of Cath Labs include the detection and treatment of over 30 distinct types of heart diseases. Studies indicate that such diseases are rampant in the country.
As this writer explained in an article last year, other functions of Cath Labs include “imaging of coronary and blood vessels in the body. Displayed images on the monitor can be seen in 360° in detail and total clarity. This enables doctors to see the images from many perspectives. The clarity leads to high precision in diagnosing.”
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It was also explained in the article that, “A catheterization Laboratory also enabled surgeons to conduct minimally invasive tests and procedures in diagnosing and treating cardiovascular diseases involving the heart and blood vessels.”
Teaching Hospitals from each of the six geopolitical zones have been selected for the establishment of oncology and nuclear medicine centers. This is to make accurate cancer diagnosis and care accessible to as many patients as possible in the country.
Those of us delving into medical and healthcare journalism are impressed that the number of cardiac catheterization laboratories in the country will become four in the next two years if the proverbial financial constraints do not abort the promised provisions of these tools.
This writer first became aware of what a cardiac catheterization laboratory was in an interaction with Professor Abdurrahman Abba Sheshe, the much-praised Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH), Kano, and subsequently gained further insights from his Deputy, Professor Auwalu Umar Gajida and a Professor of Medicine and Consultant Cardiologist, Professor Kamilu Musa Karaye.
Although Professor Sheshe as CMD and Professor Gajida as Chairman of the Medical Advisory Committee, worked in unison with the Hospital’s dissolved Board of Management and the top management committee of the Hospital to acquire a cardiac catheterization laboratory for the hospital, their push so far yielded several other advanced equipment for the Hospital.
The equipment included a Heart Lung Machine, a C-Arm machine for surgery, a Cervical Spine Set and Lumbar Spine Set, an Echocardiography Machine, and sophisticated Microbiology equipment. There is also the 160-slice CT machine and the well-equipped NKDC Advanced Diagnostic Centre, a joint venture between the Hospital and the National Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA). A plant for producing Oxygen was provided to the Hospital by the Federal Ministry of Health.
Still on equipment available at the AKTH other than the cardiac catheterization laboratory, is a phaco machine for the Ophthalmology Department, an Anesthesia machine, a micro debrided handpiece machine, and more.
The AKTH, which was not among the first set of tertiary health facilities that would be equipped in the recent decision by the federal government, nevertheless achieved some medical feats: the Hospital pioneered maggot therapy in Nigeria for the treatment of stubborn wounds; it has done Cochlear in-plant surgeries and did some Bariatric Surgeries. It has successfully transplanted kidneys over 100 times; conducted open heart surgery and is set to start liver transplantation.
My prayer as a citizen to the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate is that Nigerians should be given updates on the procurement, delivery, and installation of the equipment. Doing so will demonstrate that the hope raised will not be dashed. And there will be no subsequent frivolous petitions alleging a failed contract against the Minister and the APC-led administration.
Dambatta is APC National Director of Publicity on leave
