NEWS: Lagos records first successful bone bridge surgery in West Africa

Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) in December 2015 carried out the first successful Bone Bridge Surgery in West Africa as well as successful Cochlear Implant surgeries on three deaf patients without the support of foreign doctors, the state government said yesterday.

The state government, through LASUTH, also had its first successful kidney transplant carried out by the hospital’s team of urologists and nephrologists in November 2015 and discharged the patient in good condition on December 1, 2015, while another transplant is being planned.

Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris, who made this known at the ongoing Ministerial Press Briefing held at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre in commemoration of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s one year anniversary, said just in 11 months, the government recorded remarkable feats in the health sector due to the purposeful leadership and support of the governor.

He said in the period under review, LASUTH in collaboration with Vision Care and South Korean community in Nigeria, provided free cataract surgeries for 120 Lagosians and treated 250 outpatients between November 9 and 13, 2015 with 100 percent success rate, while under the blindness prevention programme, 7,250 patients with varying ophthalmic conditions were screened at 29 different community screening venues out of which 4,867 representing 67.1 percent were given free glasses.

The commissioner said apart from the fact that LASUTH won several international awards of excellence in the period under review, Departments of Internal Medicine  (ENT), Psychiatry and Pediatrics were granted accreditations by the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria, while the first female Oncologist in Nigeria, Dr. Fatiregun Omolara emanated from LASUTH.

Meanwhile, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has nominated former chief judge of the state, Justice Ayotunde Philips as replacement for the retired chairman of the state Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC), Justice Fatai Adeyinka.

The governor, in a letter to the House of Assembly, which was read at plenary yesterday, said the decision to nominate Philips was pursuant to the powers conferred on him by Section 2 (1) and (2) of the LASIEC Act, 2008.

According to the letter, which was read by the Clerk, Mr. Ganiyu Abiru, Governor Ambode said the nomination of Justice Philips was in tandem with the provision of the law, which mandated that the House must ratify such appointment by way of screening and resolution.

The letter reads in part: “Following the retirement of Justice A. F. Adeyinka, Justice Ayotunde Philips (retd) is being presented as the chairman of LASIEC.

“While looking forward for the favourable confirmation of the House of Assembly, please accept the assurance of my esteemed regard,” the governor said.

After the letter was read, the House adjourned to May 9, 2016 for deliberation on the letter.

The House had earlier confirmed Governor Ambode’s nominees for appointment as members of the Board of LASIEC.

They were Dr. Bunmi Omosehinde, Mr. Lateef Raji, Mrs. Toyin Ibrahim-Famakinwa and Mr. Olusegun Ayedun