Five surgeons perform Kano’s first brain surgery

• Ganduje visits patient

kano witnessed an epoch-making history and a medical breakthrough, when five neuro-surgeons within 48 hours performed the first brain surgery in the state.

The feat was carried out at Muhammadu Buhari Specialist Hospital, Giginyu, Kano, on patient Ali Iliyasu, who had been suffering from a brain ailment in the last 26 years, after an accident.

The leader of the surgeons who conducted the surgery, Shu’aibu Dambatta, a consultant, revealed that “the patient had an 11 months appointment with another different facility before he came to us and we accepted to conduct the open brain surgery on him.”

He added that the team of the surgeons included Dr Atiku, Dr Musa, Dr Hassan and Dr Musbahu, who are all from Kano State. According to him, “This is the first brain surgery done in Kano, in the history of the medical profession in the state. We were contacted within the shortest period of time and we accepted to conduct the surgery. As you can see, the patient is talking to you now, in less than 24 hours after the surgery, you know it is a successful exercise. He goes to rest room on his feet, just within 24 hours after the surgery. We all thank Allah for this all-important breakthrough in this specialist hospital,” Dambatta said.

He added that the patient is from Dala local government, in Kano State. “All members of the team that we participated together in the surgery are also from Kano.” He added that the surgery was conducted free of charge.  “His family are only left with the purchase of the prescribed drugs. So we are all happy that we conducted the first open brain surgery in Kano. And it was very successful. Alhamdulillah,” he declared.

While thanking Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, Dambatta said, “This development became possible through the good process followed by the state government in making the management of the hospital to be under Public Private Partnership (PPP), which helps in no small measure to have the state-of-the-art medical equipments that made the dream a reality.”

In his remarks, Ganduje, who expressed joy at outcome of the surgery, said, “We are delighted and very much impressed with this development. This proves clearly that when government is serious about anything, that thing can be achieved successfully.

“We are ever thankful to Almighty Allah for making our dream come true. When President Muhammadu Buhari was launching this giant Specialist Hospital, we revealed to the hearing of all that it would not be run solely by government. We wanted to make it under Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement where there will be no strike from the staff and the management would tally with the global best practice. This is the result of our people-centred thinking.”

The patient, Iliyasu, while recounting his ordeals, as to the history of the ailment, said: “I had been suffering from this problem for the past 26 years, when I had an accident. Since that time my brain was not the same again.”

He explained that “I and my family suffered a lot by going from one place to another, in search of effective medical attention and intervention. But all to no avail. The last place we went gave me an appointment of 11 months after which a surgery would be conducted on me.”

The patient said he could not sleep soundly after the operation. He lauded the governor for his accomplishment in the state.

His mother and wife, Furera Ali and Sadiya Iliyasu Abubakar, also commended Ganduje for the giant edifice and prayed for his victory and that of President Buhari in the forthcoming elections.

The governor later inspected the work on the recently initiated Kano Cancer Centre, to see the progress of work. The centre, according to him, was first thought of when he visited one of the best world cancer centres in Australia, few weeks back. “From there and then I talked to them, to come to Kano and help us in establishing one,” he said.

“When completed, it will be one of the best in Africa. All we are saying is, as we promised during our campaign periods, we will deliver to the people. Most importantly the issue of health is not something to toy about with. We are determined to do our best.