The Enugu State Government has sponsored five medical personnel for specialised cardiac care training at Babcock University Teaching Hospital, Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State, as part of efforts to develop local expertise and expand access to advanced medical services.
The beneficiaries will undergo training under the Trinitas Cardiac Traineeship Programme, facilitated by the Office of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, with exposure 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 initiative was designed to address the challenges faced by patients who have to travel to Lagos, Abuja or overseas for specialised cardiac procedures.
He regretted that such referrals placed enormous financial burdens on families and weakened public confidence in the state’s healthcare system.
Jaye, however, said Governor Peter Mbah was determined to reverse the situation by building the capacity to provide quality healthcare, including highly specialised and complex medical procedures within the state.
“But 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 stated.
The beneficiaries comprise resident doctors, intensive care unit (ICU) nurses and a medical student.
Jaye explained that while medical equipment could be procured and hospital infrastructure developed within relatively short periods, building the expertise and teamwork required to operate a safe and effective cardiothoracic service demanded sustained investment in human resources.
“Equipment can be bought in months. Buildings can rise in a year. But the ability to run a cardiothoracic service safely is built in people, and it is built in teams, as a heart operation is never one surgeon’s achievement. It belongs to the anaesthetist, the perfusionist, the theatre nurse, the intensivist and the ICU nurse,” he said.
He noted that the selection of the beneficiaries reflected the government’s deliberate effort to develop a multidisciplinary team capable of sustaining advanced cardiac care in Enugu for years to come.
According to him, the programme offers two major opportunities: practical exposure to modern cardiothoracic and critical care equipment, and the chance to learn from visiting cardiothoracic specialists from overseas.
“Exposure of this kind shapes a clinician’s standards for life,” he added.
The Special Adviser urged the fellows to maximise the opportunity and ensure that the knowledge and skills acquired were transferred to other medical personnel in the state.
He also acknowledged the contributions of Enugu Air, Cecilia Oyebola Foundation, Trinitas Healthcare Partners, Babcock University Teaching Hospital and the Enugu State Broadcasting Service, among other partners, to the capacity-building 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 assured that the team would make effective use of the training and share the expertise acquired to improve medical practice and education in Enugu State.
“I want to say that we are not ignorant of the sacrifices and efforts put in place to make this happen. We want to say that we are grateful and, in reciprocity, the skills and knowledge we gain, we will extend to others so that we continue to ramp up medical education for the good people of Enugu State,” he stated.
Also commending the initiative, renowned gynaecologist and Chief Executive Officer of Enugu International Hospital, Prof. Sam Agwu, praised Governor Mbah for what he described as massive investment in the state’s healthcare sector.
Agwu disclosed that Enugu International Hospital, which is expected to be commissioned soon, would also offer cardiothoracic services and attract highly skilled medical professionals from across the world.
Describing his support for the governor as a product of conviction rather than political considerations, he said Mbah’s leadership was bringing transformative changes to Enugu State, particularly in healthcare.
“I thank God for gifting this state the best governor I have seen in my lifetime. I have been out of this country for a very long time. So, I am not political, let it be known. I am in Nigeria and Enugu today because I am 100 per cent convinced of the transformational leadership that the Governor is bringing to this state, not just in the health sector, but also in every aspect of life in Enugu State and beyond,” he said.
He recalled that during his first meeting with Mbah, the governor had expressed his vision of ensuring that residents of Enugu North Senatorial District would no longer need to travel to Enugu metropolis to access quality healthcare.
According to Agwu, that vision informed the establishment of the State University of Medical and Applied Sciences (SUMAS) Teaching Hospital, which is already operational.
“The second stage was to bring advanced care to Enugu and the South-East, and today that vision is standing there as Enugu International Hospital, super-equipped to world-class level, and we are engaging super-duper experts at every level,” he stated.
The Chairman of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Enugu State chapter, Dr. Chima Edeoga, also welcomed the government’s investments, expressing optimism that they would position the state as a centre of excellence in healthcare delivery.
He said the administration’s interventions would strengthen Enugu’s healthcare ecosystem and contribute to the advancement of medical services across Nigeria.
“I believe that by the time he has completed his eight years, the health ecosystem of Nigeria will understand what a governor who is determined to advance healthcare means,” he enthused.
Similarly, 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 healthcare.
He said the administration’s interventions were aimed at making Enugu State a leading destination for quality and specialised medical services in Africa.
