US-Based Nigerian Doctors Perform Surgery On 10 Patients

An International Health Specialist/Epidemiologist with the United States of America Air Force, Dr. Francis Ayo Obuseh, says his humanitarian organization has successfully carried out surgery on 10 patients with different ailments in Ibadan, capital of Oyo State, southwest Nigeria, free of charge.

The 10 patients were among the 300 patients that benefitted from their 2012 free medical care.

Obuseh said that five children between the ages of 3 and 10 were operated for hernia; three women were operated for fibroid while two women were operated for lumpectomy.

While the last batch of those that were operated on were discharged around 2pm Thursday, some patients suffering from hypertension are yet to be discharged, he said,

“Their situation is pathetic and thank God that we organized this programme. There is a man there that we will not release unless his BP goes down. Most Nigerians are just walking corpses and they can collapse anywhere, anytime,” he said.

The Medical Director, Naomi Medical Centre, Dr. Abiola Aduroja, who carried out the operation, disclosed that the operation of the 10 patients took three days.

The free medical care was a follow up to that of a group of United States of America-based Nigerian medical experts who have vowed that every year, they would come to Nigeria to treat less privileged people free of charge.     The doctors who collaborated with NAOMI Medical Centre, Oke Padi, Ibadan, which provided the venue, Jesus House of Redeemed Christians Church of God (RCCG), Birmingham, Alabama are: Capt (Dr.) Francis Ayo Obuseh, International Health Specialist/Epidemiologist with the United States of America Air Force; Dr. Tolu Aduroja, a Psychiatrist with the University of Alabama at Birmingham, USA; Dr. John Louis-Ugbo, an Orthopedic Surgeon with Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia; and Dr. Benjamin Blagogee, Family Medicine/ Occupational Health Consultant from Wisconsin.

There were 13 doctors, 10 nurses, five pharmacists and other medical practitioners that volunteered their services.

Other activities carried out include: deworming, treatment of Malaria, Upper respiratory tract infection, Gastro-intestinal tract infection, and Malnutrition/Anaemia, screening for blood pressure, blood glucose, cholesterol, hearing, and measuring for body mass index (BMI).

Speaking, Dr. Aduroja, who confirmed that about N2m was spent on the programme, stated that the cost would not deter them from their goal of giving back to the less privileged of the Nigerian society.

Calling Nigerians in Diaspora to come together and find a way of helping these vulnerable people in Nigeria, he disclosed that efforts are being made to partner with the state government, relevant medical outfits especially UCH to be able to do more comprehensive medical treatments next year.

“What pains me so much is that most of the patients with serious eye problems could not really be attended to. We didn’t prepare for some ailments that patients complained of but I assure that we will do it better next year. We will ensure that we get Ophthalmologists next year to attend to people with eye problems”, Aduroja added.

Mr. Olanrewaju Arogundade, a parent of three years old, Taiwo who was operated for hernia could not hide his joy as he was seen thanking the doctors.

—Gbenro Adesina/Ibadan