A major medical breakthrough has been recorded in Nigeria as a Lagos hospital successfully carried out a complex open-heart surgery on a five-year-old boy.
The Duchess International Hospital, located in Ikeja, Lagos, performed the 15-hour surgery on a child identified as ‘Master D’, who was born with a serious heart problem known as Tetralogy of Fallot.
The surgery was done over three days, from May 19 to 21, by a team of medical experts led by Dr. Mudasiru Salami, a Consultant Cardiothoracic and Pediatric Surgeon.
“I’m thrilled to announce that the surgery was a huge success, and Master D is on the road to recovery,” Dr. Salami said while speaking at the hospital.
“Our team worked tirelessly to repair the defects in Master D’s heart, and it’s a reflection of our skill and dedication that he is making such a remarkable recovery.”
Tetralogy of Fallot is a birth defect that affects normal blood flow through the heart. It often causes life-threatening health issues if left untreated.
The surgery fixed several problems in the boy’s heart, including a hole between the lower chambers, a blocked pulmonary artery, and thickened heart muscles.
The surgical team included Dr. Bassey Udom (Cardiac Intensivist and Anaesthetist), Dr. Oladele Ojo (Medical Director), Mrs. Adeola Lawal (Team Lead, ICU & CCU), and Mr. Ayomide Ajani (Centre Manager, Cardiac Theatres and Endoscopy).
The hospital’s CEO, Dr. Adetokunbo Shitta-Bey, praised the effort and described it as part of the hospital’s mission to offer world-class healthcare.
“The surgery was a complex procedure, but we were confident in our team’s abilities,” he said. “We are proud of our team’s commitment to providing world-class medical services.”
Master D’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ademola Adetona, were full of joy and gratitude after the successful surgery.
“We are incredibly thankful to God and the entire medical team for their expertise and care,” Mrs. Adetona said, holding back tears. “We were worried about our son’s condition, but the doctors and nurses at Duchess International Hospital have been amazing.”
“They have given us hope and saved our son’s life. We can’t thank the medical team enough. They are truly angels in white coats,” she added.
The hospital said the boy has shown great improvement since the operation and is recovering well.
Meanwhile, in another medical development, the Federal Government is set to open three new cancer centres across Nigeria. These centres, located in Katsina, Nsukka, and Benin, will be launched on May 29 and are expected to serve thousands of patients each year.
Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate, described the move as the largest investment in cancer care ever made in Nigeria.
He said the government will also support poor patients with up to N400,000 for cancer treatment through a new cost-sharing programme under the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA).
“With President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, we are removing barriers to affordable and quality cancer care,” Prof. Pate said.
