At least, 16 patients have received discounted treatments for cardiovascular diseases at the Cardiocare Multispecialty Hospital, Abuja in its Intervention Cardiology Discount Program.
While speaking about the programme which targets the underprivileged, the Medical Director and Consultant physician of the Cardiocare Multispecialty Hospital, Dr Oyindamola Awofisoye, said deaths relating to cardiovascular diseases were increasing at an alarming rate.
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He said issues relating to cardiovascular were being underreported in the country, adding that the hospital in collaboration with the Nigerian Cardiovascular Education Foundation, was aiming at reducing the incidents of cardiovascular-related deaths in the country.
Dr Awofisoye, who disclosed that treatments for cardiovascular ailments could be as much as N800,000, said the hospital waived away up to 80 per cent of the cost of treatment for patients during the programme.
While encouraging Nigerians to carry out regular heart screening, especially those above 35, the physician said the two days programme was aimed at reversing medical tourism in Nigeria.
He said medical experts from the U.S were part of the programme.
Also speaking, Dr Tayo Addo from the International Cardiology Dallas, USA, said apart from offering discounted medical treatments for the less privileged, the Foundation also carry out training for Nigerian doctors on the latest medical practices in cardio care.
“The hope is that those trained will cascade the knowledge down the line so that we have more capable experts to handle cardio care in Nigeria,” he added.
