Abakaliki, Nigeria – The Ebonyi Commissioner for Health, Dr Moses Ekuma, has flagged off the third batch of free hydrocele surgery.
A hydrocelectomy is a surgery that removes or repairs a hydrocele, which is a fluid-filled sac surrounding the testicle.
The procedure usually takes less than an hour to complete and the risks include healing issues, infection, swelling, bruising and scarring. It may take two or more weeks to recover.
During the inauguration on Friday at Elinwovu General Hospital in Abakaliki Local Government Area (LGA), Ekuma, congratulated the beneficiaries, assuring
them that necessary measures had been put in place to avoid complications.
He noted that provision had been made for about sixty patients in the batch.
He explained that over 100 patients had earlier been operated upon in the first and second batches without any complications.
Ekuma noted, “just as we have earlier said, Gov. Francis Nwifuru has made our general hospitals functional such that the over 100 surgeries that were done previously, were done in our general hospitals.
“And not only that, the surgeons are all staff of the state Ministry of Health.”
He mentioned onchocerciasis (River Blindness) Lymphatic Filariasis, Schistosomiasis, Soil transmitted Helminthiasis, trachoma and rabies as neglected tropical diseases endemic in the state and appreciated the Carter Center partner for their effort to eliminate the diseases through sensitisation, procurement of drugs and motorcycles, among others.
The medical expert thanked the Carter Center for sponsoring the first and second batches of hydrocele surgeries, including the present batch as well as all they have been doing to support the state.
He solicited for more support and promised to provide conducive environment for their activities in the state.
Earlier, the Programme Manager, Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs), Mr Ifeanyi Nwofoke, and the Chief Executive/Hospital Administrator, Ebonyi Hospital Management Board, Dr. James Okata Nwali, said that NTDs cause substantial health and economic burden and enjoined the people to take advantage of the functionality of the general hospitals in the state to access the drugs for prevention and treatment.
They eulogised the governor for the revitalisation of the sector and promised to reciprocate the gesture by putting in their best.
In his remarks, the Representative of the Carter Center, Dr Christopher Nwuzor, expressed the center’s determination to fight diseases in the state and encouraged those with hydrocele to make good use of the opportunity to get rid of the disease.
On their part, one of the surgeons who is also the Director Medical Services, Dr Lawrence Ezeogo, and the Medical Superintendent, Elinwovu General Hospital, Abakaliki LGA, Dr Nwede Augustine, expressed satisfaction towards commitment of the governor and the Commissioner for employing more hands in the general hospitals.
They said the development had made the job a lot easier compared to when there was no nurse to take care of patients after surgery.
