Aisha Buhari spoke today, through the Special Assistant to the President on Health and Developmental Partners, Dr. Victoria Ogala-Akogwu, at the 5th Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference of the Association of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgeons of Nigeria.
The First Lady stressed that improved centres would contribute significantly to the development and sustainability of advanced cardiac care.
She said that the centres would collaborate with local and international organizations, including training personnel.
She recalled how she collaborated with members of the association during her recently concluded cardiac surgery missions, where 10 children and 12 adults successfully had open heart surgeries and cardiac interventional procedures, respectively. This, she said, gave her an insight into how delicate and highly technical this aspect of medicine is.
This was even as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Musa Bello said that the FCT is making efforts to turn the territory into a major tourism conference hub in Nigeria and across the continent, and he urged members of the association to continue in their efforts to save lives and develop the next generation.
In his address, the president of the association, Dr. Uvie Onakpoya, said that despite the brain drain, Nigeria receives the best thoracic surgery care comparable to anywhere in the world.
He commended the First Lady for her interest in cardiac surgeries, exemplified by the recently concluded Future Assured Cardiac Mission, which saved many lives. He called on other well-to-do Nigerians to emulate the effort of the First Lady.
The First lady was later presented with an award for her contribution to advancing cardiac surgical practice in Nigeria.
