By Fatima Saka
LAGOS, Nigeria — The National Orthopaedic Hospital, Igbobi, Lagos (NOHIL), in collaboration with Steps2Walk and the Global Health Charity and Training Foundation (GHCTF), has commenced a specialised Foot and Ankle Surgical Course and medical outreach aimed at strengthening local expertise and expanding access to quality orthopaedic care.
The programme, which began on Monday, combines specialist surgical training, knowledge transfer and free community healthcare services to improve the management of foot and ankle conditions while building the capacity of Nigerian healthcare professionals.
Speaking at the commencement of the programme, the Medical Director of NOHIL, Dr. Wakeel Lawal, commended Steps2Walk, GHCTF and other partners for supporting the initiative.
Lawal described the programme as an important platform for skills transfer and specialist training, saying exposure to contemporary global practices would enable participating healthcare professionals to replicate the knowledge gained in their respective hospitals.
He said the initiative would help expand access to specialised foot and ankle services across Nigeria and reduce the need for patients to travel abroad for treatment.
The surgical course, held at the Pavilion Hall of NOHIL, featured international faculty members from the United States, United Kingdom, Türkiye and Pakistan, who delivered lectures and presented clinical cases to participating healthcare professionals.
The sessions focused on contemporary approaches to managing foot and ankle conditions, ahead of about 30 live surgical procedures scheduled for Wednesday, Aug. 12, and Thursday, Aug. 13.
Representing Steps2Walk, Dr. John Lewis Ugbo reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to improving the management of orthopaedic deformities among children and adults in developing countries.
Ugbo disclosed that Steps2Walk had provided medical supplies and equipment to support the programme and facilitate knowledge transfer.
He identified congenital clubfoot as a significant foot deformity, noting that about three out of every 1,000 births were affected.
He expressed concern over complications resulting from neglected or poorly treated deformities in different parts of Nigeria, stressing the need for early identification, appropriate treatment and continuous specialist training.
According to him, the programme goes beyond performing surgeries, as it seeks to change approaches to managing orthopaedic deformities through early intervention, training and sustainable capacity building.
Ugbo also expressed Steps2Walk’s commitment to establishing a long-term partnership with NOHIL through continued training, provision of medical supplies and participation of international specialists in future programmes.
Meanwhile, more than 400 people benefited from the medical outreach conducted at NOHIL, with about 150 health volunteers supporting the exercise.
Services provided included blood pressure and blood glucose checks, prostate health screening, cholesterol testing, malaria parasite testing, hepatitis B screening and eye examinations.
Beneficiaries also received free medications and were linked to the Lagos State Health Insurance Scheme for continued access to healthcare services.
The Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr. Dayo Lajide, commended Steps2Walk and GHCTF for supporting specialised orthopaedic care in the state.
Lajide described the collaboration with NOHIL as significant to Lagos State, noting its potential to improve access to specialised healthcare services.
Also speaking, Dr. Adebayo Akintobi, representing GHCTF, appreciated the NOHIL leadership and volunteers for their contribution to the outreach.
He commended the volunteers for their compassion, enthusiasm and commitment to attending to beneficiaries, saying the programme demonstrated the capacity of the hospital and its partners to provide comprehensive care to a large number of patients.
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The medical outreach is expected to continue on Tuesday, Aug. 11, at the General Hospital, Somolu, where members of the public will continue to receive free healthcare services.
The Foot and Ankle Surgical Course and Medical Outreach underscores NOHIL’s commitment to strengthening specialist capacity, expanding access to quality orthopaedic care and promoting sustainable local and international partnerships for improved healthcare delivery in Nigeria.
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