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Abia Records Major Neurosurgical Breakthrough, Saves 19-Year-Old Accident Victim
Abia Records Major Neurosurgical Breakthrough, Saves 19-Year-Old Accident Victim
Abia State Government has recorded a major milestone in healthcare delivery with the successful performance of emergency brain surgery on a 19-year-old accident victim at the Abia State Specialist Hospital and Diagnostic Centre, Umuahia.
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The Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, disclosed this on Tuesday while briefing journalists on the outcome of the State Executive Council meeting presided over by Governor Alex Otti.
Prince Kanu said the surgery, which took place on Sunday, October 4, followed a road accident involving a tricycle and a vehicle, after which the victim was rushed to the specialist hospital.
He said medical investigations revealed a life-threatening collection of blood within the patient’s skull which required immediate neurosurgical intervention.
According to the commissioner, the four-hour emergency procedure involved opening the patient’s skull and evacuating the blood to control further bleeding.
“Following the successful four-hour procedure, the patient was transferred to the hospital’s intensive care unit, where he is making satisfactory post-operative recovery.
“This landmark medical feat represents more than a successful medical procedure.
“It demonstrates what becomes possible when visionary leadership, strategic investment in healthcare and the healthcare system of the state work together to save lives.
“This medical milestone follows sustained efforts by the Abia State Government, under the transformative leadership of Gov.Alex Otti of Abia to retrofit, equip, and reposition public health institutions in the state for specialists and advanced specialist care”, he said.
Prince Kanu also disclosed that Abia recently “witnessed a harvest of regulatory accreditations in the health sector including the Nigerian Board for Technical Education for two campuses of Abia State College of Nursing Sciences (ASCON), completing the accreditation of all four campuses”.
The Commissioner said the regulatory body for Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians Registration Board of Nigeria, had accredited three hospitals in the state for training which include Aba General Hospital, Arochukwu General Hospital and Abia Specialist Hospital, Umuahia, thereby covering the state’s three senatorial zones.
He also disclosed that the state government had paid N502.1 million as counterpart funding for the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund, which would enable vulnerable residents to continue benefiting from the health insurance scheme.
Prince Kanu also added that a Swedish organisation had donated surgical equipment worth about N1 billion to the state, including modern equipment for stroke, brain and spine surgeries and other complicated procedures.
The commissioner said Stanbic IBTC was also collaborating with the Abia State Health Management Board and the Ministry of Health to provide hybrid solar systems for the emergency unit of Aba General Hospital.
On public health, Kanu said activities marking the 2026 World Sight Day had commenced in the state and would run until October 15, with free eye screening for commercial drivers and other residents among the activities planned.
Contributing, the Commissioner for Health, Prof. Enoch Uche, said the successful brain surgery performed on a 19-year-old accident victim who arrived at the Abia Specialist Hospital in deep coma with a Glasgow Coma Scale of 6, which dropped to 5 during surgery, demonstrated the growing capacity of the state’s healthcare system.
Prof Uche disclosed that more than 100 millilitres of blood clots were evacuated from the patient’s brain, after which the patient began showing signs of improvement, including movement of his limbs.
He attributed the feat to investments by Governor Alex Otti in specialised healthcare, noting that the state now has facilities and brain surgeons capable of handling complex neurosurgical cases that might previously have required referral.
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