Yet another medical mission to Nigeria
After his return from the medical mission to Ogun, Nigeria, organised by District 3020, Rtn Sanjay Mucherla, a dental surgeon, learnt that there was a great need for medical equipment and training in African hospitals.
Dr Varahalu Basava, a past governor and Chairman of the medical mission, said, “not only was PRIP Raja Saboo interested in knowing about the mission, he also helped us identify our international partners from D 9110 in Nigeria and D 3650 in South Korea. We owe him and The Rotary Foundation a big thanks for helping us get this Global Grant.”
Nigeria’s State Commissioner for Health Dr Babatunde Ipaye inaugurated the eight-day health camp at the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOUTH), Ogun, on May 20. Over 400 patients were screened for various ailments and 150 patients had to undergo surgery. A team of seven doctors from India conducted the camp. The team presented laparoscopic equipment worth Rs 19 lakh and other surgical equipment worth Rs 6 lakh to OOUTH.
Recalling a three-year-old child operated for umbilical hernia, Dr Basava said, “The doctors were shocked to find such poor facilities for surgery. A fractured bone hadn’t healed, some patients suffered from large keloids. Four-to eight-year-old children in particular suffered from undescended testes and hernia. Hypospadias, amounting to one-third of the surgeries, were performed on children.” The camp was a boon for those who could not afford the huge hospital bills or travel abroad for treatment.
