Nigeria needs liver surgeons to enhance treatment-Consultant

By Baba Aminu

A Consultant Surgeon at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, (AKTH) Kano Dr Garzali  lbrahim Umar has called on newly elected leaders to assist in training and providing Liver Surgeons in Nigeria as at the moment the country do not have any.

SOLACEBASE reports that the Chairman Local Organizing Committee for the 2nd Liver Surgery Symposium scheduled to take place on Tuesday 13th June  2023 at the Conference Hall of Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano disclosed this on Sunday.

A statement issued by Deputy Director information and Public Relations Unit AKTH, Hauwa Muhammad Abdullahi said Dr Umar explained  that  in the 2021 the Department of Surgery of AKTH had organized similar symposium on Liver Surgery and top on its communique was  advocacy for Liver Surgeons in Nigeria.

The statement said this is due to patients with liver problems that required surgical intervention continue to suffer and many of them that cannot afford to travel abroad for the treatment were left languishing at home as well as the increase in the number thus the need to continue advocacy become necessary.

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‘’Umar said that at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital alone there are over ten sub specialty surgeons in Neurology, Cardiology, Spine as well as in Kidney and congenital problems who have been in the hospital and beyond doing their job , recording remarkable progress for decades but no Liver surgeons yet,’’ the statement said.

The statement appealed to all Nigerians to assist in promoting and sustaining the crusade  until the mission is accomplished.

The theme of the 2nd Liver Surgery Symposium is : Thus  Multidisciplinary Approach to Management of Portal Hypertension.’’

Papers to be presented include overview of Portal Hypertension among Pediatric & Adult patients by Drs Bashiruddeen Lawal and Muhd Gaddafi Manzo,

Hematological Changes in Portal Hypertension by Dr Usman Abdullahi Makuku,Non Surgical Treatment of Portal Hypertension by Dr  Habibu Tijjani Saleh, Radiological Evaluation & Intervention by  Dr Muhd Ali Shehu and Anesthetic Consideration by Dr Kabir Usman Aliyu among others.