Gradian health systems launch universal anesthesia machine to boost services

GRADIAN health systems have launched the Universal Anesthesia Machine (UAM) in Lagos State.

The UAM, which is the first of its kind in the state, has been in use in three hospitals in northern Nigeria, namely Murtala Muhahamed Specialist hospital in Kano, General Hospital in Funsua, in Katsina and Kaura–Namod General hospital in Zamfara since 2012.

The launch was graced by dignitaries like the Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu; head of anesthesia department of military hospital, Lagos, Dr. Ifeoma Egbunike among others.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Gradian health systems, Stephen Rudy, disclosed that the UAM was designed to deliver safe anesthesia at an international standard everywhere, since anesthesia is a prerequisite to safe surgeries.

According to Rudy, the machine, which was invented in Malawi by a British anesthetist, but manufactured in England, is fashioned to produce oxygen on its own by converting normal room air with anesthetic gas to produce pure oxygen when oxygen is indisposed during surgeries.

He added that, considering the power problem in the country, the UAM was build to have a patient-monitoring censors that have battery backups and can run for 12 hours in cases of power failure.

Unlike the conventional anesthesia machines that need electricity and conventional compressors to operate, the UAM can as well work for many days without any power supply, because it can be operated manually too.

While unveiling the machine, Oba Akiolu commended Gradian health systems for donating such a great machine to the military hospital Lagos to boost health care in the country.

Addressing the media, Akiolu pointed out that as an advocate of quality healthcare in Nigeria, he hopes to establish another healthcare center with the support of not only government, but by well meaning people in Lagos state.