29 children received free heart surgeries and 1,000 patients benefited from a medical mission in Anambra State led by 82 foreign doctors from the US, Sweden, and Canada.

No fewer than 29 children have received free open-heart surgeries, while over 1,000 patients from across Anambra State were treated for various ailments during a medical mission held in Oraifite, Ekwusigo Local Government Area.

The mission, led by 82 foreign doctors from the United States, Sweden, and Canada, was conducted under the auspices of the VOOM Foundation and the Sir Emeka Okwuosa Foundation (SEOF).

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The initiative provided critical healthcare services, including cardiovascular evaluations, medicare, and eye treatments.

Patients with mobility challenges were also given walkers, and the community received special gift packs to mark the occasion.

Additionally, medicated eyeglasses were distributed to individuals with vision impairments, in collaboration with Immaculate Heart Eye Clinic, Nkpor.

Mrs Chidinma Okoye, Executive Director of SEOF, revealed that while 29 children benefitted from free open-heart surgeries, over 15 adults were also treated at a subsidised rate.

Some adults, who were unable to afford the cost of their procedures, received treatment at no charge, thanks to the generosity of the international volunteer doctors.

During the mission, interventional cardiologists performed catheterisations on 10 children, further enhancing the range of services provided.

Okoye highlighted that this programme is part of a broader ongoing effort, with 120 successful open-heart surgeries having been conducted since the inauguration of the Dame Irene Okwuosa Memorial Hospital two years ago.

“In this September/October mission, successful free open-heart surgeries were carried out on 29 children, while over 15 adults were offered subsidised treatment for similar procedures,” Okoye explained.

“Some adults who couldn’t pay the subsidised bills were operated on free of charge by these international medical volunteers.”

The Executive Director of the VOOM Foundation USA, Shawn Pulliam, praised the unwavering dedication of the 82 foreign doctors, whose volunteer work made the mission possible.

Coordinator of the VOOM Foundation Medical Missions, Rachael Crandall, echoed these sentiments, calling the mission a major milestone for the hospital and emphasising the need for continued support from both government and private organisations.

With the conclusion of the mission, the impact of the Sir Emeka Okwuosa Foundation and VOOM Foundation’s collaboration has reached new heights, providing life-saving treatments and improving the quality of healthcare in the region.

Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) advocates for an increase in the tax on Sugar Sweetened Beverages (SSBs) to reduce health risks like diabetes and hypertension.

Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) has called on the Federal Government to raise the excise tax on Sugar Sweetened Beverages (SSBs) to discourage consumption and combat health risks.

During a two-day training for journalists in Lagos, CAPPA’s Executive Director stressed that sugary drinks contribute significantly to non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like diabetes, cancer, and hypertension, with over 11 million Nigerians already living with diabetes.

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Currently, Nigeria has a N10 per litre tax on SSBs, introduced under the 2021 Finance Act. However, CAPPA argues that this is insufficient to deter consumption.

The organisation seeks a higher tax, aligning with global standards of a 20% increase, which they believe would raise prices and reduce the public’s intake of these unhealthy drinks.

Speakers at the event highlighted that Nigeria is the fourth-largest consumer of soft drinks globally, with SSBs linked to serious health risks such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, and dental issues.

Dr. Francis Fagbule, Mr. Fidelix Obaniyi, and Ms. Joke Kujenya echoed the need for journalists to play an active role in spreading awareness about the dangers of SSBs, holding policymakers accountable, and encouraging healthier public behaviours.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) recently noted that sugary beverages are a major contributor to global obesity and NCDs, a rising concern that Nigeria must address.

CAPPA urges journalists to support public health policy changes, expose misleading marketing practices by SSB manufacturers, and promote public health campaigns.

UNICEF has provided one million cholera vaccine doses to Borno State as part of efforts to prevent a cholera outbreak following recent floods. The state’s Commissioner for Health, Prof. Baba Mallam, confirmed the delivery of 669,569 doses and urged residents to visit healthcare facilities for vaccination. UNICEF’s Dr. Gerida Birukila assured residents of the vaccines’ safety.

UNICEF has delivered one million doses of cholera vaccines to Borno State to aid in preventing potential outbreaks following recent floods.

This was disclosed by Prof. Baba Mallam, the state’s Commissioner for Health and Human Services, during the receipt of 669,569 doses in Maiduguri. The remaining doses had been delivered earlier, totalling over one million.

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Mallam, represented by Fati Ali, the Director of Disease Control and Immunisation at the Borno State Primary Healthcare Development Board, described the vaccination initiative as crucial for public health.

He urged residents to visit local hospitals to receive the vaccine, stressing that the effort was a vital response to the increased risk of waterborne diseases like cholera due to the floods.

UNICEF’s Chief of the Maiduguri Field Office, Dr. Gerida Birukila, emphasised the importance of the vaccination campaign, especially for children and those living in crowded areas.

Birukila reassured residents that the oral vaccines are safe and free from side effects. The vaccines are expected to play a critical role in protecting at-risk populations in the state.

With the support of partners like UNICEF, Borno State aims to safeguard its residents from cholera outbreaks during this high-risk period.