Ogun begins free surgery for vulnerable
The Free Surgery Intervention Programme, launched by Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has commenced with surgical procedures conducted on patients at State Hospitals in Abeokuta, Ijebu-Ode, and Ilaro of the state.
The initiative, starting with beneficiary registration, encompasses both major and minor surgical operations, representing a significant component of the governor’s medical palliative effort for the people.
Speaking after witnessing the first surgery performed on a patient under the free surgery programme at the State Hospital, Ilaro, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Dr. Rotimi Ogungbe, said the programme which is the brainchild of the governor was meant to bring relief to people with medical challenges that needed a surgical operation.
The services rendered under the programme, Dr. Ogungbe highlighted include, preoperative, operative, and post-operative.
He said: “I have gone round and I have seen the people who have been operated on. What the governor has done is unprecedented in the history of this state. The free surgery programme covers all operations including orthopaedics, we are doing gynaecological operations, obstetrics, and others.”
Read Also:
The special adviser applauded the state government for making available medical equipment and other surgical resources, noting that medical personnel have been fully mobilised to make the programme a success.
The Coordinator in charge of the programme in Yewa Zone, Dr Bashirudeen Oni, said surgical operations would be carried out on patients with breast lumps, hernia, fibroid, goitres, soft tissue sarcoma, lipoma, prostrate enlargement, adrenalectomy, cataract, amongst others.
He said the hospital hoped to operate on about eight patients from the start and scale it up as the programme progresses.
In his contribution, the Chief Medical Director of the Hospital, Dr Yusuf Abdulwahab, commended the people for turning out in large numbers to benefit from the programme, disclosing that those who were cleared were already undergoing surgical operations.
Mrs. Saidat Dopemu and Miss Ogunsiji Waidat, who were the first and second patients to be operated at the Ilaro hospital, appreciated the governor for the gesture, saying it would have been difficult to raise money if they were to pay for the operation.
Also speaking, Mr Adisa Oladejo, whose son is to undergo a hernia operation, thanked the governor for coming up with a brilliant idea at this difficult time, calling on those with serious medical challenges but lack the wherewithal to take advantage of the programme to sort themselves out.
