Dear colleagues, partners, and friends,

I am pleased to report a summary of the recently concluded Association of Nigeria Physicians in the Americas (ANPA) sponsored medical mission to Nigeria as part of our 2nd annual ANPA week.

These successful field activities involved collaborations between ANPA and several individuals, private and public partners, government agencies, NGOs, pharmaceutical organization and companies, Junior Chambers International, and others listed below.

The hard working surgical team that included Dr. Stanley Okoro, Dr. Rowland Osuoji, Dr. Abdusalam, Dr. Odeyemi, Dr. Fadipe, and yours truly, with the assistance of Dr. Nkem Ezeamama, Professor Ajovi Scott-Emuakpor, the operating room nurses and anesthesiologists performed 37 operations in 2 1/2 days despite some challenges. Surgeries done included circumcisions, pediatric hernia repairs, myomectomy, adult inguinal and ventral hernia repairs with mesh, breast biopsies/lumpectomies, lipomas, excision of “lumps and bumps”. See some of the attached pictures. Patients and parents of children operated on were overjoyed.

The team experienced similar joy and priceless satisfaction that comes from observing the immediate positive impact made by our little services to them. I had the honor and privilege to work with our mentor, teacher, father, humble gentleman, scholar, and Pediatric Hematologist/Oncologist, Prof. Ajovi Scott-Emuakpor, in the operating theater. He not only assisted the pediatric surgeons and myself intraoperatively, but kept detailed accurate records of all procedures performed the whole time, making our jobs smoother!

The females on our surgical team were exceptional, including the nurses, Dr. Nkem Ezeamama, an Emergency physician who was my first assistant in most cases, and Dr. Abimbola Abolarinwa, the first female Urologist in West Africa! Where else would we have had the opportunity to work and network with such people if not for medical missions? A topic to be explored at another time.

Other cases seen but not operated on due to lack of adequate equipment included huge goiters and acute cholecystitis which Dr. Odeyemi (local Consultant Surgeon) agreed to take care of at the Lagos General Hospital. Postoperative care was provided by the Consultant Surgeons and the two residents and staff at the First Consultants Hospital. Unfortunately, we also saw some advanced cases of breast cancer and carcinomatosis and they were referred to local oncologists for further care.

We donated 5 pulse oximeters, many surgical instruments and numerous medical and surgical supplies to the hosting First Consultants Medical Centre after completion of the surgical mission. ANPA members also donated numerous medical books and journals to the same hospital to help establish a library in memory of Dr. Stella Ameyo Adadevoh (and the three other heroes) who died during the Ebola outbreak to save many Nigerian lives.

Concurrently, the energetic medical team started at St. Gregory’s College, Obalende, with ADIPT issues, health education talks by Dr. Bamigboye on diabetes mellitus, Dr. Osinbowale on smoking-related diseases and smoking cessation, Dr. Toks Etomi on women’s health, Dr. Teresa Pounds on appropriate use of medications. They saw patients who had been recruited by our partners at the Junior Chamber International, Nigeria Chapter (JCI) from the Eti-Osa Local Government of Lagos at St. Gregory’s Health Center.
They also attended to patients at First Consultants Hospital and Freedom Park on subsequent days, seeing about 400 patients in all, and Dr. Bamigboye can give further details.

Some medical problems seen include hypertension, diabetes, heart disease including congenital heart disease, rickets, different pediatric and adult hernias, GERD, peptic ulcer disease, old fractures with dramatic malunions, respiratory distress syndrome with atypical pneumonias, bronchial asthma, chronic kidney disease, dysfunctional uterine bleeding, uterine fibroids, multiple lipomata and other skin masses, varicoceles, goiter, anxiety state, depression, etc.

Surgically-related cases were sent to the First Consultants Hospital for surgery and the very sick patients were immediately sent down to the General Hospital. Medications were dispensed by the pharmacy team assembled by Dr. Teresa Pounds of NAPPSA from the US and Pharmacist Kayode Aiyegbajeje, locally.
Dr. Ajie, the local dentist assigned to the mission participated briefly.

After the surgical and medical missions the ANPA executive committee and some committee chairs traveled to Abuja for advocacy activities, then to Calabar for CME (CPD) lectures in collaboration with the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA). Details of these and the Executive Summary have already been posted by Dr. Osinbowale.

I would like to thank God almighty who made all these possible without complications and protected everyone involved. Special thanks to all our volunteers and partners listed below (please forgive me if I omitted anyone), to our most capable chief host, Dr. Benjamin Ohiaeri, and to our able president, Dr. Johnson Adeyanju, for his leadership.

Volunteers –
USA:
1. Dr. Clifford EKE (Chair of ANPA’s Medical Missions’ Committee and Leader of the Surgical Team)
2 Dr. Jide Bamigboye (Chair of the ANPA Disease Intervention and Prevention Team otherwise known as ADIPT and Leader of the Medical Team)
3. Dr. Johnson Adeyanju (ANPA President)
4. Dr. Charmaine Emelife (ANPA President-elect)
5. Professor Ajovi Scott-Emuakpor (Chair, Programs Committee)
6. Dr. Barbara Onyia (Houston Chapter’s Chair-elect)
7. Dr. Abraham Osinbowale (Chair, Advocacy Committee)
8. Dr. Stanley Okoro (Chair, Atlanta/Georgia Chapter)
9. Dr. Dr. Tokunbo Etomi (Volunteer)
10. Dr. Adanna Anyikam (Volunteer)
11. Dr. Dr. Toks Macarthy (Volunteer)
12. Dr. Dr. Nkem Ezeamama (Volunteer)
13. Dr. Kingsley Agbeyegbe (Volunteer)
14. Anthony Okolo (MS3, Albany, Volunteer)
15. Dr. Nnamdi Maduekwe (Chair, Psych sub-Committee)
16. Dr. Wale Sulaiman ( Chair, Consultancy Committee)
17. Dr. Udo Asonye (Chair, Maternal and Child Health Committee)
18. Dr. Teresa Pounds (NAPPSA, Pharmacy Volunteer)

NIGERIA
1. Dr. Benjamin Ohiaeri (CMD, First Consultants Hospital)
2. Dr. Rowland Ifeanyi Osuoji (Consultant Pediatric Surgeon)
3. Dr. Moruf Abdusalam (Pediatric Surgeon)
4. Dr. Abimbola Abolarinwa (Consultant Urologist)
5. Dr. Dapo Asiyanbi (MOH, Lagos Island Local Government)
6. Dr. Akinwande Fadipe ( Consultant OB/GYN)
7. Dr. Kayode Osunlaja (Consultant Anesthesiologist)
8. Dr. Mary Gbolaro (Resident House Officer)
9. Dr. Fred Adekola (Consultant Anesthesiologist)
10. Dr. Ochi Igbolo (Consultant Anesthesiologist)
11. Mr. William Iwuoha (CRNA)
12. Dr. Adewole Coker (Consultant Anesthesiologist)
13. Dr. Idowu (Consultant Anesthesiologist)
14. Dr. Ibukun Odeyemi (Consultant General Surgeon)
15. Dr. Nkoyiren Ajie (Dentist)
16. Pharmacist Kayode Aiyegbajeje
17. Dr. Elizabeth Osakwe (Resident Medical officer).

Others:
Prof Oladapo Folabi
Dr. Dapo Asheyobi Head public health Lagos Island LGA
Dr. Wale Oke CMD LASUTH
Dr. Ayoade Adedokun DCST LASUTH

Partners with ANPA:
First Consultants Medical Centre
NAPPSA
LASUTH
Lagos State Government
Lagos Island LGA
Local Government Host : Honorable Dr. Abiola Balogun
Local Government Liaison: Dr. Ebun Sonaiya
Logos State Health Commissioner Partnership: Dr. Jide Idris
Nigeria Medical Association (NMA)
Ministry of Health
Globus Relief
MAP International
Ethicon
Johnson & Johnson
AmeriCares
Channels TV

May we continue to work together for “a healthier Nigeria…”

We need volunteers for ANPA week 2018 in Anambra State! Stay tuned and see you in June for ANPA convention in Atlanta, GA.

Humbly submitted,
Cliff Eke, MD, FACS, FICS
Chair ANPA Medical Mission Committee
Founder/CEO Chima Medical Missions