The Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH in collaboration with an American Non-Governmental Organization, VOOM Foundation has successfully carried out state-sponsored cardiothoracic surgeries on five patients.

A Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Dr. Reza Khodaverdian, who led the visiting team from USA, during a Press Conference held in LASUTH, attributed the overall success of the operation to the availability of international standard equipment at the hospital stressing that the equipment, as well as the medical skills of the hospital’s local surgeons, contributed immensely to the success achieved.

According to him, “The fact is that for this type of surgery to take place, there are many things that should be put in place. Such as meticulous planning, huge resources and most importantly teamwork which  I can boldly say that we enjoyed since we arrived Lagos.”

“With all these in place, I foresee the possibility of LASUTH independently carrying out more of cardiothoracic surgery in no distant future”, Dr. Khodaverdian remarked.

He commended the State Government for the provision of a high-quality facility in LASUTH, describing it as the best compared to other Teaching Hospitals earlier visited by the team in Nigeria.

The Chief Medical Director of the Hospital, Professor Adewale Oke called on well-to-do Nigerians to consider sponsoring the treatment of thousands of Nigerians suffering from one heart-related disease or the other.

He disclosed that the cost of accessing medical treatment in Nigeria is high and beyond the reach of the average Nigerian, adding that private sponsorship is very imperative in order to complement the government’s efforts in the health sector in order to have healthy citizens.

“As we speak, we have about 1000 patients who are suffering from one heart-related disorder or the other. In fact, some of them could barely take a 10 feet walk before they start breathing heavily. This shows the degree of discomfort which this category of persons are passing through every now and then and this explains why financial assistance is greatly needed in this regard.” Oke stated.

Also speaking at the event, the Senior Special Assistant, SSA, to the State Governor on Health, Dr. Sola Pitan commended the team from America, saying that the present administration is very happy to have them collaborate with LASUTH surgeons on the operation.

The SSA, who put the cost of accessing surgery for heart-related diseases between N3 and N9 million Naira, appreciated the Foundation for providing the service at no cost to the beneficiaries.

He informed that the team did not just come for the mission alone but also came with drugs and other medical aid for patients.