Group conducts free surgical intervention for Lagos residents

The Society of Family Physicians of Nigeria (SOFPON) has conducted free surgical intervention for 60 residents of Lagos State to reduce morbidity and risk of death from common medical conditions.

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Dr Sixtus Ozuomba, Chairman, SOFPON, Lagos chapter, said this during the association’s surgical outreach in celebration of the World Family Doctors Day on Saturday in Lagos.

The day celebrated annually on May 19 has as its theme:  ‘Family Doctors: The Heart of Primary Care’, emphasising the critical role of family doctors in delivering compassionate and patient-centred care to their patients.

Ozuomba noted that basic surgical procedures were among the most cost-effective health interventions that could prevent avoidable deaths, boost welfare and economic productivity.

He, however, said that poverty and affordability of surgical care was a huge challenge for many Nigerians, irrespective of the part of the country where they resided.

According to him, to bridge the gap of accessibility to surgical procedures, SOFPON has organised free surgical intervention for lipoma, breast lump, ingrown toenail, ganglion, hernia and other day cases surgery.

He revealed that 60 people would benefit from the intervention which was held at Onikan General Hospital and General Hospital, Odan, Lagos.

Ozuomba further added that the surgeries funded from the dues and levies of SOFPON members was to complement the Lagos State Government’s efforts in ensuring qualitative healthcare for its citizens.

Speaking on the theme of the 2023 celebration, Ozuomba maintained that family physicians were reputed for providing comprehensive, continuous and coordinated healthcare to individuals, families and communities.

He reiterated that family doctors are good advocates, speaking on behalf of their patients as it regarded government’s policies and actions.

“We have a lot of competent areas, what people have been saying is the medical aspects, we are not limited by disease entity, age or sex of the patients.

“Surgery is also an aspect of the competent areas of a family physician. We decided to showcase that this year and let people benefit from it.

“Some people that have been finding it difficult to get into the healthcare system are seizing the opportunity to come in,” he said.

He noted that brain drain was affecting all specialties of the health sector, especially the family doctors whom he said were in high demand due to their competence that cuts across specialties.

Similarly, Dr Oghide Oziegbe, Secretary of SOFPON, noted that the free surgical intervention would relieve many beneficiaries from pain and discomfort which they have had for years but could not treat due to lack of funds.

Oziegbe noted that the beneficiaries had undergone free laboratory tests and assessments to assess their fitness ahead of the surgery.

Wumi/NAN