DR DATONYE ALASIA CMAC CHAIRMAN
The University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital has achieved major success recently, following its partnership with the European based Cardiovascular Education Foundation( CEF) that focuses on electrophysiology and cardiac device implantation.
Earlier, at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital special Grand Rounds of the cardiology unit, a heart specialist and cardiologist team from Scotland, led by Neil Grubb, and together with Jagdeep Singh , a cardiologist and cardiac device implanter were at Upth to train medical professionals in order to establish an advanced pacemaker unit in port harcourt.
Grubb said that the primary mission of the initiative is basically to train Doctors , physiologists and Nurses in advanced cardiac techniques.
According to Grubb,many patients in Nigeria suffer from treatable heart conditions due to a lack of access of specialized care.
Grubb explained that pacing is a procedure used to treat patients with abnormally slow heart rhythm without treatment,adding that such conditions can cause fatigue, dizziness, blackouts and even death, even as he opined that the procedure involves implantation on electronic pacemaker device under the skin, with wires connected to the heart,and guided by electronic imaging.
He noted that the high cost of these devices poses a challenge and thus to address this, the team is repurposing single- use devices from UK hospitals that are still functional but would otherwise be discarded,stressing that these devices are sterilized and safety reused to benefit Nigerian patients at a minimal cost.
His words, ” they are quite costly,there is a care, so we are using some of the devices that cannot be reused in hospitals in Uk, i stead of throwing them.they can be used to the benefit of the people in Nigeria”, he summed up.
Grubb posited that the team has already treated twenty ( 20) patients, adding that the team primary focus is on training rather just treatment.
” We are committed to leaving a lasting legacy equipping Nigerian medical professionals with the skills to carry out these procedures independently.
Grubb asserts that some of fundings comes from volunteer work,while the administrative costs are covered by the cardiovascular education foundation in the U.S
He affirmed that clinical trials have proven the safety of these reused devices, pointing out that Upth has the expertise to handle follow ups, including annual battery checks and remote control systems.
Also speaking, Chairman, Upth Medical Advisory Committee, ( CMAC) , Dr. Datonye Alasia said that the pacemaker project aligns with Upth strategic plan to expand specialized medical services, noting that pacing procedures is very expensive, costing around $20,000) which amounts to #10 million, thereby making access difficult for many Nigerians.
Dr Datonye stated that to tackle the problem, Upth is focusing on capacity building , collaboration, and resource mobilization,even as he added that the initiative began in 2018 with a part from the University of Michigan, during which seventy seven(77) patients received treatment, making Upth the largest centre in West Africa for these procedures.
He said,” it opened doors for more collaboration for the cardiovascular education foundation and other partners”
” His words,the program has gained recognition across Nigeria, attracting medical professionals and patients from different states” he stated.
He opined that in no distant time, the Rivers state government may support the establishment of a cardiac catheterization laboratory at Upth to further enhance heart disease treatment
However, a 29 year old patient,Felicity Agore has shared her experience as a beneficiary of the cardiac pacing procedure at the University of Port harcourt Teaching Hospital, ( Upth) by her cardiologist after learning that a team of specialists was coming to Nigeria for the program.
She said,” it was refered by my cardiologists to upth. He told my husband and me that specialists were coming into Nigeria for this program.
Following the successful procedure, Agore expressed relief, stating that after about 21 years of relying on medication, she now feels significantly better.
