The federal government has partnered the Israeli government towards enhancing access to complex surgeries of the pancreas, liver and the bile duct in the country.
The Special Adviser to the President on Health, Dr Salma Ibrahim Anas said the partnership has already yielded positive results, with a medical intervention at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) in Abuja.
She spoke yesterday during the Hepato- Pancreato Biliary Symposium, themed “Bridging the gap in Hepato-pancreatic-biliary surgery in Nigeria: challenges and strategies”, organised by the Israeli embassy in collaboration with the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Health , at the Federal Medical Centre, FMC, Abuja.
She said there are plans to establish a capacity-based resource center at the FMC, adding that it will serve as a hub for training and research, enabling healthcare professionals from across Nigeria to benefit from the expertise shared through the collaboration.
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Chairman of the Israeli hepato-Pancreato Biliary Society, Prof Sadot Eran who led the team of experts in conducting the surgeries said it was the first time such kind of complex surgeries were being performed in the country.
He said patients also came from other states of the country to access the surgeries.
He said, “So it is a very important moment for us.It is a testament for the power of international collaboration that brings the expertise and knowledge to the benefit of patients. “
He said the medical team comprised highly trained surgeons who have decades of experience, and have dedicated endless hours to the project.
Dr Bashir Yunusa , a General and Laparoscopic surgeon at FMC Abuja , said the Israeli team have also helped build the capacity of the Nigeria team.
He called for more of such collaborative programs to enhance the health sector of the country.
He said one of the major challenges for pancreatic cancer in Nigeria is late presentation for care. While saying that screening is key to early detection of the disease, he said mass screening was important to ensure patients present early.
Earlier, the Israeli Ambassador, Michael Freeman said there were discussions with the special Adviser on health within President Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda, and that Israel expressed desire to contribute its expertise to Nigeria’s healthcare system.
He said Israel was committed to supporting Nigeria’s health sector adding ,“Our dream is that Nigeria becomes a centre of excellence where people come for medical tourism to Nigeria, not from Nigeria.”
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