Lagos performs free sûrgeries for 50 children with limb defôrmities

The Lagos State Government has performed surgeries on 50 children with lower limb deformities at Gbagada General Hospital in the latest phase of its Free Limb Deformity Corrective Surgery and Rehabilitation Programme.

The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Olusegun Ogboye, disclosed that 50 beneficiaries were selected from the 213 individuals initially screened in this phase.

This was made known via a post by the Lagos State Government on Thursday, 12th of September, 2024.

The post reads in part:

“Lagos State has once again demonstrated its commitment to providing accessible healthcare with its Free Limb Deformity Corrective Surgery and Rehabilitation Programme. This initiative, which targets children with lower limb deformities, recently saw 50 beneficiaries receive life-changing surgical interventions at the Gbagada General Hospital.

“The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr. Olusegun Ogboye during a visit to the hospital to meet with the latest beneficiaries of the programme revealed that the 50 beneficiaries were among the 213 individuals screened in this latest phase, with many of the patients being children who had endured significant challenges due to their conditions.

“ ‘The programme started in 2007 as a medical assistance initiative for children with lower limb deformities that impede normal growth and function. Since then, it has evolved into a multidisciplinary outreach, reaching over 6,000 beneficiaries to date’, Dr. Ogboye explained.

“He emphasised that the state government initiated this intervention to reduce the physical and emotional burden on affected children and their families, aiming to restore the children’s ability to function normally in society. ‘The programme is designed to tackle deformities such as bow legs and clubfoot, which if left untreated, could hinder the ability of children to walk or live independently’, he said.

“The Permanent Secretary stated that the most recent phase of the programme began with a screening exercise at Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), where a team of specialists evaluated the patients. ‘Those who qualified were subsequently booked for surgery at the Gbagada General Hospital. In addition to surgery, beneficiaries were provided with physiotherapy, nutrition counseling, health education, and assistive mobility devices to ensure a comprehensive recovery’, he added.” [CONTINUE READING HERE]>>>>