JAUNDICE: Going abroad, not a guarantee for cure –Expert - PUNCH

September 25, 2013 by Ignatius Igwe

A medical expert, Dr. Olakunle Onakoya, has advised Nigerians who travel abroad for medical treatment to watch it, as it is not a panacea for a successful treatment.

Onakoya, a consultant orthopaedic surgeon said this in Lagos on Wednesday during a press conference organised by the Lagoon Hospitals, Lagos, for a beneficiary of a metallic replacement of whole arm surgery.

He described as pitiable the frequent visits by wealthy Nigerians to hospitals abroad, adding that Nigerian surgeons have the expertise to perform ground-breaking surgeries.

The surgeon was part of the team of experts at the Lagoon Hospital, Lagos who performed a replacement of whole arm on a 43-year old banker, Mr. Adesoji Suraj who had lost hope in local experts, hence sought treatment in a foreign hospital.

Speaking with our correspondent, Suraj explained that he was involved in an auto accident in 2009 while returning home from office, which led to the loss of his arms.

He added, “I was advised to go to the United Kingdom for treatment after spending huge amount of money in hospitals at Ijebu-Ode, Ibadan and Lagos.

“At the time of the accident till now, I was unable to walk or even use my hands to shake people or do other things. On getting to the UK, I was made to understand I will spend another N5m and that made me return to Nigeria.”

While thanking the management of Access Bank Plc for their love and care during his period of agony, Suraj, however, admitted that it was only medical experts in the hospital that were able to salvage his situation.

Chief surgeon, Lagoon Hospital, Dr. Olujimi Coker noted that the surgery was made possible due to the latest technology in which anti-bacterial chemicals were fixed to coat the metals.

“This surgery is the first of its kind in Africa. Less than 30 cases of this have been performed in the UK in few years in just two hospitals.

“However, our team of experts were able to use anti-bacterial chemical to coat the metals in line with the best global standards,” Coker added.