Outgoing President of the International College of Surgeons, Nigeria Section (ICS-NS), Prof. Akanimo Essiet, has called on members to intensify their involvement In surgical outreach missions and commit to ongoing local initiatives aimed at improving healthcare access nationwide.
Speaking in Abuja at the 58th Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Scientific Conference of the College, which commenced on June 23 with a medical outreach, Essiet urged members to renew their support for the Abuja headquarters building project.
The event, themed “Surgical Safety in a Developing Economy: The Role of Technology and Healthcare Innovations,” also featured sub-themes addressing public-private partnerships in healthcare financing and strategies such as adaptability and outsourcing to enhance surgical safety.
He highlighted recent international milestones achieved by the Nigerian section of ICS, including increased representation on the global Executive Council and Editorial Board, and an invitation to contribute to the scientific committee for the upcoming 44th ICS Biennial Congress in Singapore.
Despite these achievements, he warned that local initiatives could stall without stronger internal support.
“We must take ownership of our projects. Relying solely on external political support has not been fruitful,” he said.
He urged members to emulate the Executive Council by paying project levies and actively participating in outreach programmes, citing the poor response to a Swiss-supported surgical mission in Nigeria’s North-Central region in November 2024 as a missed opportunity.
“We must not only initiate our own outreach programmes but also support international partners when they offer to collaborate,” he added.
Essiet commended the Executive Council for their dedication and praised the Local Organising Committee, led by Dr Charles Ugwuanyi, for successfully hosting the AGM on short notice.
In a goodwill message, Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) President Prof. Bala Audu, represented by Prof. Titus Ibekwe, applauded the College for its dedication to professionalism, training, and advocacy, particularly in underserved areas.
Also speaking, Dr Yahaya Adamu, Managing Director of the Federal Medical Centre, Keffi, stressed the need for stronger political engagement in health policymaking.
“We may have the knowledge, the expertise, and the will, but without political support, our efforts may amount to nothing,” he said.