The Enugu State Government has sponsored five medical personnel for specialised cardiac care training as part of efforts to strengthen local capacity for treating patients with complex heart and chest conditions and reduce referrals to other states and overseas hospitals.
The beneficiaries, comprising resident doctors, intensive care unit (ICU) nurses and a medical student, will undergo training at Babcock University Teaching Hospital, Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State, under the Trinitas Cardiac Traineeship Programme.
The programme, facilitated by the Office of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, is designed to expose participants to advanced intensive care, high-dependency care, open heart surgery and cardiothoracic surgery.
Speaking at the send-off ceremony in Enugu on Thursday, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Dr Yomi Jaye, said patients requiring specialised cardiac procedures had often been referred to Lagos, Abuja and overseas hospitals, placing significant financial pressure on their families.
He explained that the state government was working to strengthen its healthcare system and develop the expertise required to provide advanced medical services within Enugu.
Jaye said Governor Peter Mbah was committed to ensuring that residents could access quality healthcare locally, including treatment for complex medical conditions.
“Governor Peter Mbah has been clear that Enugu must be able to care for its own people, including the most complex cases. That is what health sovereignty means in practice,” he said.
The Special Adviser noted that while medical equipment could be purchased and hospital infrastructure constructed within a relatively short period, developing the specialised skills and teamwork required for safe cardiothoracic procedures demanded sustained investment in medical personnel.
He stressed that successful heart surgery depended on the coordinated efforts of surgeons, anaesthetists, perfusionists, theatre nurses, intensivists and ICU nurses.
According to him, the composition of the five-member team reflects the government’s intention to develop a multidisciplinary workforce capable of supporting cardiothoracic services in the state.
Jaye added that the training would provide participants with practical exposure to modern cardiothoracic and critical care equipment, as well as opportunities to learn from visiting specialists from overseas.
He urged the beneficiaries to make effective use of the opportunity and share the knowledge and skills acquired with other healthcare professionals in Enugu.
He also acknowledged the support of Enugu Air, Cecilia Oyebola Foundation, Trinitas Healthcare Partners, Babcock University Teaching Hospital and the Enugu State Broadcasting Service, among other partners.
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Dr Nnaemeka Ugwuowo, a Senior Registrar in the Department of Surgery at Enugu State University Teaching Hospital, Park Lane, expressed appreciation to the state government and its partners for the training opportunity.
He assured that the team would apply the knowledge gained and share their experience with other medical personnel to strengthen healthcare delivery and medical education in the state.
Also speaking, the Chief Executive Officer of Enugu International Hospital, Prof. Sam Agwu, commended the Mbah administration for its investments in the health sector.
Agwu disclosed that the hospital, which is expected to be inaugurated soon, would also provide cardiothoracic services and engage highly skilled medical professionals from different parts of the world.
He said the establishment of the Enugu International Hospital and the operational State University of Medical and Applied Sciences (SUMAS) Teaching Hospital reflected efforts to expand access to specialised healthcare across the state.
The Chairman of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Enugu State chapter, Dr Chima Edeoga, also praised the administration’s efforts to position Enugu as a centre for quality healthcare delivery.
Similarly, the Commissioner for Health, Prof. George Ugwu, represented by the Director of Public Health and Disease Control, Dr Uche Okenwa, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to sustained investment in the health sector.
He said the interventions were aimed at positioning Enugu as a leading destination for specialised healthcare services in Africa.
Written by Enitan Mudashiru
