The Enugu State Government has sponsored five medical personnel for specialised cardiac care training at Babcock University Teaching Hospital, Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State, in a move aimed at building local capacity for advanced heart treatment and reducing the need for patients to seek specialised care outside the state.
The training, organised under the Trinitas Cardiac Traineeship Programme and facilitated by the Office of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, will expose the beneficiaries to advanced intensive care, high-dependency care, open-heart surgery and cardiothoracic surgery.
Speaking at a send-off ceremony for the fellows in Enugu on Thursday, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Dr. Yomi Jaye, said the programme was part of Governor Peter Mbah’s determination to strengthen the state’s healthcare system and develop the expertise required to handle complex medical cases.
Jaye lamented that patients requiring cardiac surgery were often referred to Lagos, Abuja and overseas, placing enormous financial pressure on families and weakening public confidence in the local healthcare system.
He said the governor was determined to change the situation by ensuring that Enugu developed the capacity to provide quality healthcare, including highly specialised medical procedures.
“Governor Peter Mbah has been clear that Enugu must be able to care for its own people, including the most complex cases. That is what health sovereignty means in practice. And for us, it is not a slogan. That is why we must continue to build capacity,” he said.
Jaye disclosed that the five beneficiaries comprised resident doctors, intensive care unit nurses and a medical student.
He explained that while medical equipment could be purchased and hospital infrastructure developed within a relatively short period, building the human expertise and teamwork required to operate a safe and effective cardiothoracic service demanded sustained investment in medical personnel.
According to him, successful heart surgery depends on the coordinated efforts of several specialists, including surgeons, anaesthetists, perfusionists, theatre nurses, intensivists and intensive care nurses.
He said the composition of the training team reflected the government’s intention to develop a complete workforce capable of sustaining cardiothoracic services in the state.
The Special Adviser identified exposure to modern cardiothoracic and critical care equipment, as well as opportunities to learn from visiting overseas specialists, as key benefits of the programme.
He urged the beneficiaries to take full advantage of the training and ensure that the knowledge and skills acquired were transferred to other medical personnel in Enugu State.
Jaye also commended Enugu Air, Cecilia Oyebola Foundation, Trinitas Healthcare Partners, Babcock University Teaching Hospital and the Enugu State Broadcasting Service, among other partners, for supporting the initiative.
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Dr. Nnaemeka Ugwuowo, a Senior Registrar in the Department of Surgery at Enugu State University Teaching Hospital, Park Lane, expressed appreciation to the state government and its partners for the opportunity.
He pledged that the team would make effective use of the training and share the experience gained with other healthcare professionals to improve medical practice and education in the state.
In his remarks, the Chief Executive Officer of Enugu International Hospital, Prof. Sam Agwu, praised Governor Mbah for what he described as significant investment in the health sector.
Agwu disclosed that Enugu International Hospital, which is expected to be commissioned soon, would also provide cardiothoracic services and attract highly skilled medical professionals from different parts of the world.
He said his support for the governor was based on his conviction about the administration’s developmental vision, particularly its commitment to transforming healthcare delivery.
Agwu recalled that during his first meeting with Mbah, the governor had expressed his desire to ensure that residents of Enugu North Senatorial District no longer needed to travel to Enugu metropolis to access quality medical care.
He said the vision informed the establishment of the State University of Medical and Applied Sciences (SUMAS) Teaching Hospital, which is already operational.
According to him, the next phase was to bring advanced medical services to Enugu and the South-East through the development of Enugu International Hospital.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the Nigeria Medical Association, Enugu State chapter, Dr. Chima Edeoga, commended the administration’s efforts to position the state as a centre of excellence in healthcare delivery.
He said the investments being made by the government would strengthen Enugu’s healthcare system and contribute to the development of medical services across Nigeria.
The Commissioner for Health, Prof. George Ugwu, represented by the Director of Public Health and Disease Control, Dr. Uche Okenwa, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to sustained investment in the sector.
He said the administration’s interventions were designed to position Enugu State as a leading destination for quality and specialised healthcare services in Africa.