Enugu State sponsors five medical staff for heart training program

The Enugu State Government has sent five medical staff for special training in heart care at Babcock University Teaching Hospital, Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State. This is part of the effort to improve healthcare and enhance local skills for advanced medical services.

The training is under the Trinitas Cardiac Traineeship Programme at the university. It is organized by the Office of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Health. The program will teach the fellows about advanced intensive care, high-dependency care, open-heart surgery, and cardiothoracic surgery.

At the send-off ceremony for the five fellows in Enugu on Thursday, Dr Yomi Jaye, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, noted that sending patients needing heart surgery to places like Lagos, Abuja, and even abroad has placed a heavy financial burden on families. It has also made people lose trust in the local healthcare system.

He added that Governor Peter Mbah is committed to changing this situation. The goal is for Enugu to develop the ability to provide quality healthcare, including complex medical procedures. "But 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. And for us, it is not a slogan. That is why we must continue to build capacity," he stated.

Dr Jaye explained that the five beneficiaries include resident doctors, ICU nurses, and a medical student. He said that while hospitals can get equipment and build facilities quickly, developing the skills and teamwork needed for safe and effective heart surgery takes time and investment in people.

"Equipment can be bought in months. Buildings can rise in a year. But the ability to run a cardiothoracic service safely is built in people, and it is built in teams, as a heart operation is never one surgeon’s achievement. It belongs to the anaesthetist, the perfusionist, the theatre nurse, the intensivist, and the ICU nurse," he said.

He mentioned that the beneficiaries' mix shows the administration's effort to create a strong team of medical professionals. This team will help maintain the state’s cardiothoracic care capacity in the future. He added that the program has two key features: giving the fellows hands-on experience with modern equipment and the chance to learn from cardiothoracic specialists visiting from abroad.

"Exposure of this kind shapes a clinician’s standards for life," he noted. Dr Jaye urged the beneficiaries to make the most of the opportunity and share the knowledge and skills they gain with other medical staff in the state.

He also thanked Enugu Air, Cecilia Oyebola Foundation, Trinitas Healthcare Partners, Babcock University Teaching Hospital, and the Enugu State Broadcasting Service, among others, for their support of the state's healthcare initiative.

Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Dr Nnaemeka Ugwuowo, a resident doctor and Senior Registrar in the Department of Surgery at the Enugu State University Teaching Hospital, expressed gratitude to the state government and its partners. He promised that the team would use the training to improve medical practice and education in Enugu State.

"I want to say that we are not ignorant of the sacrifices and efforts put in place to make this happen. We want to say that we are grateful and, in reciprocity, the skills and knowledge we gain, we will extend to others so that we continue to ramp up medical education for the good people of Enugu State," he said.

Prof Sam Agwu, a well-known gynaecologist and Chief Executive Officer of Enugu International Hospital, praised Governor Mbah for his significant investment in the state’s health sector. He mentioned that the Enugu International Hospital, expected to open soon, will also focus on heart care and attract skilled medical professionals from around the world.

Agwu, who said his support for the administration is based on belief rather than politics, called Mbah’s leadership transformational, especially in health. "I thank God for gifting this state the best governor I have seen in my lifetime. I have been out of this country for a very long time. So, I am not political, let it be known. I am in Nigeria and Enugu today because I am 100 per cent convinced of the transformational leadership that the Governor is bringing to this state, not just in the health sector, but also in every aspect of life in Enugu State and beyond," he said.

He recalled that during his first meeting with Mbah, the governor had shared his vision for ensuring that people from Enugu North Senatorial District would not need to travel to the city for quality care. He said this vision led to the creation of the State University of Medical and Applied Sciences (SUMAS) Teaching Hospital, which is already working.

"The second stage was to bring advanced care to Enugu and the South-East, and today that vision is standing there as Enugu International Hospital, super-equipped to world-class level, and we are engaging super-duper experts at every level," he stated.

Dr Chima Edeoga, the Chairman of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) in Enugu State, also praised the administration’s efforts to make the state a leading healthcare center. He said the investments by Mbah's administration would significantly boost the state’s healthcare system and advance medical services across Nigeria.

"I believe that by the time he has completed his eight years, the health ecosystem of Nigeria will understand what a governor who is determined to advance healthcare means," he said.

In his remarks, Prof George Ugwu, the Commissioner for Health, represented by Dr. Uche Okenwa, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ongoing investment in health. He said the administration aims to position Enugu State as a top destination for quality and specialized healthcare services in Africa.