By Admin 
DELTA: A seven-year-old girl who lived without an anus since birth has successfully undergone life-changing surgery at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Asaba, Delta State.
The surgery, which lasted over 11 hours, was performed by a multi-disciplinary team led by renowned pediatric surgeon Professor Emmanuel Ameh. It reconstructed a functional anal structure while addressing related complications. The Chief Medical Director of FMC, Dr. Victor Osiatuma, described the feat as a significant milestone for the hospital.
“This achievement marks a turning point in our journey to establish FMC Asaba as a leader in advanced medical procedures in Nigeria,” Dr. Osiatuma said.
The procedure was delayed for years due to financial constraints until the intervention of Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, and Delta State’s First Lady, Deaconess Tobore Oborevwori. Their support facilitated the long-awaited operation.
In a related development, a one-year-old baby with a similar condition underwent a 14-hour surgery at the same facility. Both surgeries underscore FMC Asaba’s commitment to delivering specialized healthcare to underserved patients.
Dr. Osiatuma called for sustained public and government support to alleviate the financial burden on indigent patients.
“We need collective efforts to reduce medical tourism by investing in our local healthcare systems,” he added.
The groundbreaking surgeries highlight the importance of collaborative efforts in transforming Nigeria’s healthcare landscape and providing hope to families facing challenging medical conditions.