The medical director of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Abeokuta, Professor Adewale Musa-Olomu, has stated that the hospital performs an astounding 25 percent (1 in 4) of all daily cardiac surgery in the nation. He revealed this during a courtesy visit of Ogun State Council, led by Comrade Akinwale Olanrewaju, the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), to the hospital. Musa-Olomu accredited the hospital’s accomplishments of outstanding feats to the modernizing of the facilities and hiring of highly skilled surgeons.
He pointed out that the medical center has become a key player in the nation’s healthcare system, making a substantial contribution to the life-saving operations made possible by its cutting-edge medical Technology and highly qualified surgical staff. According to him, the center boasts of skilled surgeons who are committed to offering vital cardiac care. The director emphasized the financial differences between domestic and international medical options, pointing out that patients frequently have to pay up to $100,000 for open heart surgery abroad, particularly in Ghana and Ivory Coast. In stark contrast, the average cost of the same process at the center is about ₦10 million in total.
Successful open-heart surgery was an important milestone.
On the other hand, Musa-Olomu stressed the significance of raising public awareness of the hospital’s capabilities and urged cooperation with the NUJ to guarantee that more people take benefit of these services. Speaking, Comrade Olanrewaju praised the FMC’s management for the hospital’s rapid transition, noting that the past seven years have shown how important the facility is to providing Nigerians with high-quality healthcare, lowering the need for medical care received abroad, and thereby saving lives. He guaranteed that the hospital and media would continue to work together.
An important milestone for the Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta was reached with the institution’s first successful open-heart surgery. Inaugurating the hospital’s cardiothoracic program, this procedure was performed earlier in February. The procedure was carried out by a team, led by a renowned cardiothoracic surgeon Dr. Augustine Olugbemi. Congenital heart abnormalities and other serious cardiac diseases were treated during the procedure. This ground-breaking procedure was a part of the center’s recently established cardiothoracic program, which was created to meet Nigeria’s increasing demand for heart surgery.
Solidifying FMC’s position as a vital healthcare provider.
This first surgery was hailed as a technical accomplishment as well as for solidifying FMC’s position as a vital healthcare provider with top-notch surgical skills that are progressively lessening the necessity for Nigerians to travel overseas for medical care. Subsequently, more surgeries were performed, solidifying FMC Abeokuta’s position as the area’s preeminent provider of modern heart treatment. Since kickstarting operation in February 2024, the facility has successfully operated on both adult and pediatric patients who had congenital heart abnormalities. Nine successful procedures have been completed, and more patients are waiting in line.
Since then, patients from both domestic and foreign locations seeking heart-related therapies have made the institution a preferred location. The facility’s reputation is still growing, drawing patients from all throughout Nigeria and even outside of the nation as it’s more affordable than those available elsewhere. Experts like Dr. Olugbemi and Dr. Saheed Sanni leads a group of skilled cardiothoracic surgeons who perform the procedures. FMC Abeokuta has been able to execute these surgeries owing to its large Investment in modern health care equipment and the hiring of highly qualified surgeons, establishing it as a major healthcare facility in Nigeria.
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Moreover, FMC has joined the elite group of foreign medical centers that have proven capable of performing cardiac surgery, an important accomplishment for the Nigerian healthcare sector. The hospital’s recently constructed cardiothoracic center is capable of performing a broad spectrum of thoracic organ, heart, and lung surgeries. This specialized unit’s cutting-edge amenities and initiatives aimed to decrease Medical Tourism by providing top-notch care locally also add to its rising status as a pioneer in Nigeria’s healthcare system.