Lagos government has, on Thursday, performed free correctional surgery for 50 physically challenged children.
This was disclosed in a post on the state’s official Facebook page.
The correctional surgery targeted at children with lower limbs deformities was conducted under the Free Limb Deformity Corrective Surgery and Rehabilitation Programme.
This state government-powered initiative saw 50 beneficiaries receive life-changing surgical interventions at the Gbagada General Hospital.
Speaking during a visit to his visit to the hospital, the Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr. Olusegun Ogboye, 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”, Ogboye explained.
He emphasized 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.
On his part, the initiative’s Coordinator, Dr. Tolulope Ajomale praised the present administration’s efforts which have been instrumental in ensuring the continued success of this programme.
“With the support of Governor Babajide Sawo-Olu, we are targeting 1,000 free surgeries over the next few years”, he stated.
