Raphael Ede, Enugu
Chairman of the National Cardiothoracic Centre of Excellence, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Ituku Ozalla, Enugu, Prof. Basden Onwubere, has said the centre has carried out about 230 open heart surgeries since March 2013.
The former provost of the college of medicine said half of the number were children.
Prof. Onwubere made the disclosure while fielding questions from newsmen, at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, last Saturday, on the activities of the centre. He said although UNTH started open heart surgery in February 1974, and suspended it in 2007, due to movement to the new site at Ituku Ozalla, the number carried out between 2013 till date is far higher than the number of surgeries carried out from 1974 to 2007, 33 years.
He attributed the massive progress to the support of the Chief Medical Director. Dr. Chris Amah, who, not only supported the project financially, but, also, went further and engaged some international partners and philanthropists, who helped to smoothen the process of surgery.
The renowned cardiologist explained that apart from taking part in the surgery, “the foreign medical team retrains our local heart surgeons on the latest technology in open heart surgery.”
On the cost of open heart surgery at the UNTH, Prof. Basden Onwubere said due to the charitable disposition of Dr. Amah, the hospital only collects between 30 to 40 percent of the actual cost of surgery per patient.