Centre gives hope to cardiovascular patients

*Conducts 75 open-heart surgeries since inception

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Tristate Heart and Vascular Centre (THVC), Babcock University Teaching Hospital, Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State Prof. Kamar Adeleke has disclosed that the centre, a hope for Nigerians with cardiovascular conditions has conducted over 75 open-heart surgeries in the country since its inception in 2014.

Speaking at a media tour of the facility recently, Adeleke said, it is not right for any Nigerian to die of some sort of cardiovascular condition due to lack of access to proper care, for “health is a fundamental right of all.”

He said, with a success rate of 98 per cent in all the 75 open-heart surgeries, it would amaze people to know all the experts are abroad trained Nigerian doctors.

According to him, though Nigeria has the human resources, people do not trust the system, hence the needs for them to know where to access such facilities as well as build trust in the system.

Adeleke noted that, there have been increasing request for cardiac surgeries as the figures keep rising by the months due to lots of factors like hypertension.

He described cardiovascular conditions in the country as silent killers, therefore alerted people to know their blood pressure, cholesterol and sugar levels to avoid sudden deaths.

He further explained that in spite of the Centre’s aim of prevention, most cases reported are diagnoses with few interventional ones as this has resulted to the recent high demand for vascular surgeries.

“Open-heart surgeries would soon take over due to more booked cases,” he added.

The American trained cardiologist described the centre with its latest state of the art technological equipment as a world class one for all cardiovascular conditions.

“The standard is nothing compared to what you find in countries like the United Kingdom Germany and Indian among others,” Adeleke expressed.

He revealed that almost N2.4 billion was expended in establishing the facility with a large chunk devoted to procurement of equipment and infrastructure, and another “N400 million on consumable and sustenance of the facility in the last three months.”

He disclosed that the rising needs of cardiovascular issues in the country have birthed plans to open similar facilities in five other states (Abuja, Lagos, Kano, Calabar and Ibadan).

Also present was the Adult and Paediatric Cardiothoracic Surgeon of the centre, Dr. Michael Sanusi who explained that, more children are victims of hole in the heart due to congenital heart diseases, as one out of every 100 children would have the condition.

Sanusi said, for adults, high blood pressure HBP is the most important risk factor for stroke because it adds to the hearts burden and overtime cause mutilation to the organ.

Mrs. Philippa Onyekwelu, wife of a patient at the centre gave the testimony of her husband, who was in a critical condition and had just a week to live according to doctors.