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Osinbajo friends’ medical outreach: 472 cataract patients receive surgery in Sokoto

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5 years ago

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No fewer than 472 cataract patients have received free surgery in the Sokoto State phase of Friends of Osinbajo Medical Outreach.

Dr Abubakar Dange, Coordinator of the Medical Outreach in the state, said this while speaking with newsmen on Monday in Sokoto.

The exercise, organised by friends of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo under the auspices of the “March 8 Initiative,” is an offshoot of the nationwide Free Eye Care/ Surgery inaugurated recently in Ikenne, Ogun.

Dange said it was the first of the three-day exercise at the Specialist Hospital, Sokoto.

“The Sokoto phase of the medical outreach witnessed a large turnout and already 472 cataract patients got free eye surgeries with many others receiving free consultations, screening, and other corrective eye care interventions.

“The initiative, which has impacted many Nigerians across different sectors over the years is one way the vice president has asked his friends and associates to mark his birthday instead of spending scarce resources on gifts and others.

“The exercise kicked off at the Specialist Hospital, Sokoto, as early as 8 a.m. on May 25 with many patients from within and outside the state capital presenting themselves for screening and treatment before a team led by the Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Dr Nuhu Maishanu.

“Although 1,500 patients are targeted for treatment during the period of the exercise, the medical team has so far conducted successful surgeries on 472 patients and thousands more received other corrective eye care interventions between May 27 and May  30,” he said.

Some beneficiaries barred their minds on the impact of the exercise, thanking the vice president and his friends for making the medical outreach possible.

Aliyu Murtala, a farmer, said he came there because he could not see very well with both eyes but after the treatment, he could see clearly.

” But the interesting thing about what has happened here today is that I did not pay a dime to get this quality of treatment.

“Although I have not met the man responsible for all the good things that we are experiencing here today, I am told that the person is the vice president of our country.

” I just want to thank him and all the other people supporting this gesture. I pray that Allah continues to bless and increase him in every aspect of life,” he said.

On his part, Alhaji Damboa from Wammako, Sokoto,  thanked God and the sponsors of the outreach.

He prayed God to grant good health to the vice president, take him to greater heights, and also prayed for peace and unity in the country.

A female beneficiary of the free eye care, Hajia Indo Ibrahim, said she came to the hospital because of her eyes and was treated.

“I  have received treatment and I feel okay today; When I came here yesterday, I couldn’t see your interviewer’s face, but now I can see your face clearly.

“I am very happy because I did not pay for the service and medication given to me, for that, I thank those responsible for this.

“I pray that Allah rewards them and grants all their heart desires, also preserving them to continue to support the needy just as they have supported us.

” And, we will continue to vote for them whenever they come seeking our support,” she said.

The  Vice-Chairman of Gudu LGA of Sokoto, Abdulahi Jimajimi, said that it was pleasing to note that the vice president and his friends instead of spending so much money to make merry in celebration of his birthday chose to support the less privileged in the society.

“Just behind me, you can see the crowd, over 500 people have so far been treated within three days that the programme started. We are grateful to the Vice President for the gesture especially in choosing to address a common problem among people in our communities.

“We remain grateful to the vice president and his friends especially for remembering the masses instead of lavishing a lot of money on birthday parties and other luxuries,” he said.

Other locations for the medical outreach across the state include General Hospital Illela and General Hospital Dogon Daji.

The exercise is expected to end on June 20. (NAN)

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Nigeria Commence Development of First National Rehabilitation and Assistive Technology Strategic

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7 days ago

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August 4, 2026

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The Federal Government has commenced the development of Nigeria’s first National Rehabilitation and Assistive Technology Strategic Plan aimed at strengthening disability-inclusive healthcare and expanding access to rehabilitation services nationwide.

The initiative was unveiled on Tuesday in Abuja during a three-day stakeholders’ zero draft meeting on the proposed national rehabilitation and assistive technology strategic plan.

Speaking at the event, Dr Ahmed Ozi, Director of the Family Health Department, Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, described the exercise as Nigeria’s first coordinated effort on rehabilitation services.

He said the initiative would establish a national framework for rehabilitation and assistive technology in the country.

Ozi said the strategic plan reflected the ministry’s commitment to achieving Universal Health Coverage by ensuring that persons with disabilities had equitable access to healthcare services.

He said that the initiative aligned with the World Health Organization (WHO) guidance on rehabilitation and disability-inclusive healthcare.

According to him, the strategic plan will serve as a roadmap for strengthening rehabilitation services and expanding access to assistive technology across the country.

“Disability can affect anyone at any stage of life. We must therefore promote empathy, protection and support for all citizens requiring rehabilitation services,” he said.

Ozi added that the strategy would guide rehabilitation programmes and strengthen disability-inclusive health policies nationwide.

He acknowledged that the document remained a zero draft and expressed confidence that stakeholders’ contributions would improve its quality and implementation potential.

The director urged participants to provide technical expertise and recommendations to ensure the development of a comprehensive and practical national strategy.

Also speaking, Head of the Georgia Society for Healthcare Engineers (GASHE), Dr Umeh Sunday, said work on the national rehabilitation strategic plan began following the establishment of a Rehabilitation Technical Working Group by the ministry.

Sunday explained that Nigeria previously lacked a federal rehabilitation policy, leaving states without a coordinated national framework for rehabilitation services.

He said the proposed strategy aligned with the WHO Rehabilitation 2030 initiative and the World Health Assembly Rehabilitation Strategy 2025–2035.

According to him, rehabilitation is an essential component of healthcare and should commence whenever patients require such services rather than after complications arise.

Sunday said that the Technical Working Group conducted nationwide situational assessments using WHO guidelines before drafting the strategy.

“Preliminary drafts have been prepared and are undergoing stakeholder review to reflect Nigeria’s rehabilitation priorities and healthcare realities,” he said.

He added that the workshop would further refine the document before endorsement, official inauguration and nationwide implementation.

Sunday urged stakeholders to make meaningful contributions that would strengthen rehabilitation services and improve outcomes for Nigerians requiring such care.

The Regional Rehabilitation Consultant for Africa, Dr Nassib Tawa, said the development of the strategic plan followed nearly two years of preparation and consultations.

Tawa said the strategy was informed by findings from a national situational assessment of rehabilitation services across Nigeria.

“The assessment identified major challenges, including the absence of a national rehabilitation policy and inadequate financing.

“It also revealed infrastructure deficits, limited clinical spaces and shortages of trained rehabilitation professionals nationwide,” he said.

According to Tawa, one in five Nigerians could benefit from rehabilitation services or assistive products.

He said the government would prioritise realistic and achievable interventions within the proposed five-year implementation period.

Tawa explained that the strategic plan would run from 2027 to 2031 and outline national priorities, objectives, vision, mission and implementation targets.

“Five technical task teams will review key workstreams before consolidating recommendations into the final draft.

“The strategy will promote a shared national understanding of quality rehabilitation benefiting every Nigerian requiring such services,” he said.

He added that the plan would strengthen partnerships, improve coordination and expand financing, infrastructure, workforce development and access to assistive technology across the country

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NMA Inaugurates Newly Elected Executives in Zamfara

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August 2, 2026

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The Nigerian Medical Association NMA, Zamfara chapter, on Saturday inaugurated newly elected executives to steer the affairs of the association for the next two years in the state.

In his acceptance speech, Salahudden pledged to provide transparent and inclusive leadership aimed at advancing the interests of medical practitioners and strengthening healthcare delivery across Zamfara.

He said his administration would collaborate with relevant stakeholders to promote the medical profession and support initiatives that would improve the health sector in the state.

The new chairman also appealed to members of the association and other stakeholders to support his leadership to enable it achieve its goals and objectives.

Earlier, the outgoing chairman, Dr Ibrahim Hano, commended medical doctors in the state for the support and cooperation extended to his administration throughout its tenure.

Hano said his leadership recorded significant achievements, particularly in promoting members’ welfare, unity, mutual understanding and professional harmony among doctors across the state.

According to him, the association under his stewardship maintained cordial relationships with key stakeholders, especially the state government, resulting in improvements in healthcare service delivery.

Administering the oath of office, former NMA Chairman, Dr Abubakar Danladi, urged the newly elected executives to justify the confidence reposed in them by members.

Danladi advised the new leadership to carry all members along and promote teamwork, unity, peace and stability within the association for sustained progress and professional development.

The officials were elected during the association’s 2026 Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference held in Gusau, the state capital.

The election was conducted under the supervision of the electoral committee chaired by Dr Ibrahim Halilu, who oversaw the voting process and declaration of results.

Dr Murtala Salahudden, Incident Manager of the Polio Emergency Operations Centre, Gusau, emerged chairman after polling 110 votes to defeat Dr Bashir Isa of Yariman Bakura Specialist Hospital, Gusau, who secured 55 votes.

Six other executive officers emerged unopposed and were subsequently inaugurated to serve alongside the chairman in administering the affairs of the association during the tenure.

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U.S.-Based Nigerian Scholar, Nwajiaku, Team Build AI Robot for Jaw, Bone Surgery in U.S.

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1 week ago

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August 1, 2026

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U.S.-based Nigerian scholar and control engineer, Mr Kenechukwu Nwajiaku
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A U.S.-based Nigerian scholar and control engineer, Mr Kenechukwu Nwajiaku, alongside his research team, has developed an intelligent robotic control system that bends and twists skeletal fixation plates to fit patients’ jaws or bones precisely.

Nwajiaku disclosed this in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Saturday.

He said the innovation combined robotics, machine learning, and advanced control technology to shape patient-specific surgical plates accurately, potentially making reconstructive surgery easier and more precise.

The research team—comprising scholars from Case Western Reserve University and The Ohio State University—includes Nwajiaku, Ethan Regal, Tyler Babinec, Yi Jin, Brian Thurston, Glenn Daehn, Changyong Cao, David Dean, Kenneth Loparo, David Hoelzle, and Robert X. Gao.

“The system uses a Gaussian Process-Enhanced Model Predictive Control framework, known as GP-MPC, to predict how a fixation plate will respond while being bent and twisted.

“Reconstructive surgeons use fixation plates to restore damaged facial and jaw bones following trauma, cancer, congenital conditions or surgical treatment.

“These procedures can affect a patient’s appearance and essential functions, including speaking, chewing, breathing and swallowing, making accurate plate shaping important to surgical outcomes,” he said.

Nwajiaku explained that surgeons often shaped the plates manually to match each patient’s anatomy.

However, the process can be difficult and time-consuming because the metal may partially return toward its original form after force is removed, a behavior known as “springback”.

“Our system predicts the plate’s response, compensates for springback and determines the deformation required to produce the desired shape.

“Working in control and automation taught me that machines do not always behave in the real world exactly as mathematical models predict.

“This inspired me to combine advanced control systems with machine learning so that machines can learn from data, account for uncertainty and make more accurate decisions,” he added.

The Nigerian-born engineer noted that the framework combines physics-based modeling with machine learning to improve the robot’s accuracy and consistency.

“Physics helps us understand how the system should behave, while machine learning accounts for what the simplified model may be missing.

“Combining them creates a control system that is better equipped to handle the nonlinear and uncertain behaviour of the material.

“The peer-reviewed study conducted at Case Western Reserve University evaluated the technology through computer simulations and experiments on a physical robotic testbed.

“In combined bending-and-twisting tests, the GP-enhanced system improved deformation accuracy by approximately 22 per cent along the bending axis and 34 per cent along the twisting axis compared with conventional Model Predictive Control.

“The system also recorded low variability during stochastic simulations, suggesting reliable performance under uncertain conditions,” he said.

Nwajiaku pointed out that further development and clinical validation would be required before the technology could be introduced into routine surgical practice.

He, however, noted that the findings demonstrate the potential of artificial intelligence and robotics to support the precise and automated production of patient-specific surgical components.

“I am inspired by the possibility that the same principles used to make industrial machines more intelligent and precise can be applied to challenges that directly affect people’s lives,” he said.

Nwajiaku, whose research interests include artificial intelligence, machine learning, advanced control systems, robotics, digital-twin technologies, and intelligent automation, added that similar technologies could support other medical and industrial processes requiring precise material shaping and reliable decision-making.

“I want my work to contribute to intelligent systems that solve real problems and create benefits beyond a single laboratory or organisation,” Nwajiaku said.

The research points toward a future in which surgical expertise, robotics, physics-based prediction, and machine learning converge to enable safer, more precise, and patient-specific reconstructive procedures.

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