The Chief Medical Director, Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH), Prof. Abdulrahaman Abba Sheshe on Thursday said, the hospital is set to reduce mortality and mobility rate from heart diseases in the country.
Sheshe who spoke shortly after receiving donation of Cardiothoracic machine by the Nigerian AGIP Exploration LTD, operator of the NNPC and NAE PSC said that, the machine, which is the best in the world came at the right time.
“The mortality and mobility rate arising from heart diseases is on the increase especially amongst children and only those who can afford it travel to Egypt, India and Europe to get treatment”.
“With this donation, and other instruments already available in this hospital, we hope to be able to handle some of the major heart diseases so that our people wouldn’t have to travel abroad anymore”.
It will lead to improvement in terms of mortality rate recorded in the country regarding heart diseases”.
He stated that because of the expensive nature of treatment for heat diseases patients, many have lost their lives.
“The treatment for heart surgery world-wide is very expensive but with this machine, patients will get treated at a subsidized rate.
“It is important to also note that, at our level, we also have programs that assist patients suffering from chronic diseases.
The donation of this machine came at the right time considering the increase of number of mortality and mobility rate we are seeing in heart patients”.
He further noted that; “the NNPC has done a lot in this hospital, just two years ago, they provided us with tissue typing machine which has been helping us in transplanting operations.
“This has helped us carry out over 70 successful kidney transplant at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital.
“We no longer have to send patients to other countries for tissue typing. This process help to determine which kidney is suitable for a patient in need of donation”.
In his remarks the Managing Director, AGIP (NAE) Mr. Mr. Giovanni Grugni, represented by Mr. Chris Eke said the company’s donation is part of it’s efforts at giving back to the society.
He said, it is hoped that the new machine will help in the field of heart surgery and treatment for patients seeking treatment at AKTH while urging the hospital management to make judicious use of the machine.