Rivers
Association Charges RSG On Cardiovascular Treatment Centre
Following the increase of deaths from Cardiovascular and Thoracic diseases in the state, the leadership of the Association of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgeons of Nigeria (ACTSON) has called on the State Government to partner with the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH) to build a cardiovascular treatment centre.
ACTSON says, it has competent and capable trained cardiovascular and Theoracic doctors to handle all manners of Cardiovascular disease in the state and beyond.
This is as the body said, they handle all kinds of cardiovascular diseases at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, (UPTH), but need some physical instruments to operate.
Speaking to newsmen shortly after the 3rd Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference at the hospital, Chairman, Local Organising Committee (LOC) ACTSON, Prof Uriah Etawo said Nigerians spend huge amount of money on medical tourism abroad treating Cardiovascular and Thoracic cases.
Prof Etawo who frowned at the absence of a cardiovascular treatment centre in the state, appealed to both oil companies and private individuals to assist in establishing a centre in Port Harcourt.
Describing the disease as chest and heart surgeries, the former Chief Medical Director, UPTH, said the disease constitute over 16 percent of deaths globally, saying over 40 percent of residents of the state has cardiovascular cases.
He noted that the aims of ACTSON meeting were to create awareness and enlighten the public on the dangers of the disease and making the public know that it can be treated at UPTH by team of professionals.
Cardiovascular and Thoracic diseases, Prof Etawo said was a silent killer that had claimed many lives and required a lot of money to treat.
“If we develop open heart surgery in the state, we shall be better and spend less on medical treatments.
“It is much easier and cheap to do an open heart operations here in Port Harcourt than India,” he said.
He noted that the first open heart surgery was done 40 years ago in Enugu, Nigeria, but none in South/ South region.
Etawo who attributed the causes of the disease to air and environmental pollutions, smoking, indulging in illegal refineries, said UPTH offers medical services to over nine (9) states in the country
Also speaking, Secretary LOC, Dr. Kelechi Okonta said the team of cardiovascular and thoracic consultants at UPTH were trained in India, Germany, Israel and others.
He explained that over 25 percent of the Nigerian populations are due to have injury of the heart.
Dr. Okonta said ACTSON was aimed at improving cardiovascular practices in the country and making treatment accessible to the poor and save lives.
By: Chinedu Wosu
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