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A good heart, according to Edward George Earle Bulwer-Lytton, “is better than all the heads in the world.”
The importance of this quote was demonstrated recently in Oraifite, Anambra State, where history was made at Dame Irene Okwuosa Memorial Hospital (DIOMH) Irefi Oraifite, Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra state.
The hospital commissioned on May 12, 2021, and specialises in critical care management and automated surgery procedures successfully performed 24 open heart surgeries worth N180 million in 10 days. The feat was achieved due to the collaborative efforts of Oilserv and the Sir Emeka Okwuosa Foundation which flew in 45 medical doctors from the United States of America and Sweden in the second phase of the foundation’s free Medical Fair held from October 31 to November 11.
Earlier in May, the foundation held the first medical fair, where eight Open Heart Surgeries were performed. The free medical outreaches are aimed at reducing the number of people with congenital heart disease by 35 per cent.
The Critical Health Intervention Doctors also treated cases of Catheterizations, Pacemaker Insertions. The hospital also handled 348 general practice cases (with a focus on diabetics, arthritis, and hypertension) at no cost to the beneficiaries.
Two representatives of the Federal Ministry of Health were around throughout the four days of surgery procedures to observe the Open Heart surgeries.
Also present were representatives of the Pediatric Association of Nigeria (PAN) and the Nigeria Society of Pediatric Cardiology (NISOPAC).
Some of the stakeholders in health sector who spoke to Daily Sun noted that with 24 Open Heart surgeries in 10 days, Nigeria and Africa have set a new medical record.
Group Chief Executive Officer of the OilServ and founder of the Foundation Dr. Emeka Okwuosa noted that the foundation believes in the power of humanity to solve any challenge.
“We believe in the power of humanity to solve any challenge. OilServ and Sir Emeka Okwuosa Foundation’s contributions to families, and communities in Anambra state and Nigeria at large align with our deep-rooted commitment to impacting lives positively and to supporting the federal government of Nigeria.
‘’Through our continuous Open Heart surgeries and medical outreach, we look forward to making strong and lasting inroads into reducing the heart disease burden by 35 per cent, on the world’s most affected population through affordable cardiology delivery and research actions in Africa.”
He added that the Foundation’s poverty alleviation programme which focuses on capacity building, provision of basic amenities such as roads and water, and award of scholarships to the people, had improved the standard of living of people in Oraifite, neighboring communities, and Nigeria at large.
