Setting the pace for laparoscopic surgery in the West African sub region, Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), has on Monday, October 12,2015, unveiled a Medtronic Laparoscopic Simulator machine for the training of laparoscopic surgeons in Nigeria and beyond.

The machine, which was unveiled at the second annual meeting and international workshop of the Nigeria Society of Laparoscopic Surgeons (NISOLS) in Lagos, is said to have cost 80,000 Euros.

Chief Medical Director of LUTH, Prof. Chris Bode, told The Guardian “this machine is the same as the ones many Nigerian surgeons go abroad to train on, we are happy we now have it here in LUTH.”

Bode, further said that, it will boost the health sector as promised, because it is an opportunity for surgeons to practice and perfect their skills on key hole surgeries.

He also disclosed that, in addressing the issues of effective power supply, the hospital has gotten a 3.48 megawatt electricity generation plant, that is awaiting gas link to start working in few weeks.

The three-day workshop, which focused on the core skills in laparoscopic surgery, was aimed at training younger laparoscopic surgeons for the future.

The president of the NISOLS, Dr. Jimi Coker, said, the future for laparoscopic surgery is bright with the recent developments in that regard.
“With the formation of the society and the fact we have been able to gather all the brains behind laparoscopic surgery in Nigeria and beyond, to have training this shows the future is bright,” he remarked.

He cited poor power supply, lack of skills and training of surgeons, as well as insufficient awareness of patients as the major challenges of the new trend of surgery in the country.

“Unlike the open surgeries were you cut the patients open and can see every thing, with the key hole, you put a camera in the patient, and that serves as your eyes, so effective power supply is essential”.
Coker told our correspondent that, apart from cesarean section, the keyhole surgery is applicable to any type of surgery at an affordable cost.

Therefore, “people do not need to travel abroad for the procedures they can safely and confidently have in the country. More so, the keyhole surgery as compared to the open surgery enhances quick recovery of patients.

Comparing Nigeria’s level of laparoscopic surgery to that of Ghana, a laparoscopic surgeon at the 37 Military Hospital, Accra, Ghana, Dr. Nuamah

Nabil, said, “the state of Laparoscopic surgery in Ghana is still In its infant stage” as it was started in the hospital in 2013.

Apart from the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital and the 37 Military Hospital both in Accra, there are only two other laparoscopic centers in Ghana.

Therefore, this workshop, is in the right direction, “because there is a lot Ghana can learn on how to start the laparoscopic training in Ghana”.

Nuamah said, “Nigeria has taken a concerted and cooperative efforts in developing laparoscopic in the West African sub region”, and we look forward to
partnering with LUTH, since Ghana currently does not have any wet or dry laboratory to start training our residence.