Posted on: Thu 19-09-2024

The University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH) has upgraded its clinical services with the recent introduction of advanced endoscopic procedure.

UCTH Chief Medical Director, Prof Ikpeme Ikpeme, who disclosed during an interaction with newsmen in Calabar, said the hospital was the second government-owned medical facility after OAU Teaching Hospital, to deploy the medical science technology in Nigeria.

He said this came to fruition after the medical institution’s partnership with the Massachusetts General Hospital to leverage endoscopic practice in Cross River State.

“We have had a basic endoscopy programme ongoing for years, but we thought it was time to upscale it and introduce advanced endoscopy. So, we got into collaboration with the Massachusetts General Hospital to advance endoscopic practice in our locality,” Ikpeme stated.

Speaking on the level of the hospital’s preparedness to adapt to the new technology, the Chief Medical Director said some personnel had been trained in the USA on the process, adding that the required equipment to ensure smooth endoscopic procedures had been procured.

“It involved the introduction of Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS). The advantage of this is that it would improve the diagnosis of hepatopancreatic biliary diseases, and when that happens, the chances for better treatment are also improved.

“Before this time, if somebody had pancreatic cancer and needed to do a biopsy, we would need to give them a big incision in the abdomen to go see the pancreas and then do the biopsy. Now, we have introduced a camera mounted on a fiber optic cable and looking at the video screen, we get to the specific area, do the biopsy needed, administer the treatment and the person is fine,” Ikpeme added.

SOURCE: GUARDIAN NEWSPAPER

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