Rafatu Arowolo, a 62 year – old petty trader used to have great
difficulty walking as a result of pain in her left knee. She could no
longer cope with challenges of her trade. Her illness denied her family
the crucial support she provided in the home.
But when Rafatu could not move again, it became her clear to her husband and family that her health required major intervention.
“At this point, we began to seek treatment in other hospitals but to
no avail,” said her husband, Arowolo.”When we came to the Lagos State
University Teaching Hospital, we were told she need required a total
knee replacement surgery. But we were scared because we were told that
the treatment could only be done in abroad and the money required was
huge.
“Where do I get such amount of money? I am a civil servant, how much
is my salary? I only manage on what I earn to feed my children and
manage the home.”
There and then, it was cleared that I needed help because I cannot
imagine my wife being crippled all of a sudden. Finally, we were
directed to the Lagos State Coordinator, Free Health Programme.” The
rest is history
The story of Rafatu Oyelakin is just as pathetic. The 52 year – old woman was diagnosed with Osteoarthritis of the knee.
Her case began like with pain but progressively worsened to the
deformity of her right knee (K- leg) making it extremely difficult for
her to walk.
Rafatu visited LASUTH for three years as an out- patient without a solution.
“My condition did not respond to non operative treatment using
medications and physiotherapy. I was also offered total knee
replacement broad but was unable to afford the cost of the prosthesis.
“My husband and children did all they could but we were not able to
afford it until we were directed to partake in the Lagos State free knee
replacement surgery.”
Experts say Nigerians with knee problems is on the increase. A
community based study on Prevalence and Pattern of Symptomatic Knee
Osteoarthritis in Nigeria published by the Internet Journal of Allied
Health Sciences and Practice showed that osteoarthritis is a leading
cause of disability, affecting 60-70 percent of people aged 60 years in
Nigeria. Researchers from the study concluded that one out of every
five adult Nigerians aged 40 years in rural community has symptomatic
knee osteoarthritis, with a female preponderance in the ratio of 1.2:1.
Corroborating this view, Consultant orthopaediatric Surgeon, Ladipo
Adewole explained that osteoarthritis is the most common form of
arthritis, often called wear-and-tear arthritis.
Osteoarthritis occurs when the protective cartilage on the ends of
the bones wears down over time. It can damage any joint in the body.
Adewole who spoke on the official presentation of two beneficiaries
of the Lagos State Free Total Knee Replacement programme last week in
Lagos noted that even though, some form of surgeries like the knee
replacement surgeries exist only a few hospitals have capacity to do so
and most times patients cannot afford cost of treatment put at not less
than Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Dr Jide Idris, regretted
that most hospitals including government – owned hospitals in Nigeria
lack capacity for knee replacement surgeries.
“The State Government started free knee replacement surgeries in
realisation of the high numbers of patients who applied to the state
government for financial assistance to travel abroad usually India to
have the knee replacement surgery procedure done at high cost.
“As a government we thought it wise to discontinue the trend of
taking our resources abroad for surgical exercise that can be done in
the country. We felt by starting this exercise, we would not only
discourage patronage of overseas treatment, but we would build local
capacity for surgical procedures like this.
“It is also an avenue for training resident doctors aspiring to
become certified specialists as well as nursing staff and
physiotherapists who will be responsible for patients’ nursing and
rehabilitation management.”
According to the Commissioner, so far, 12 people have benefitted.
“This way, the surgeons, nurses and physiotherapists get to manage such
cases frequently and therefore become more proficient.
“Also, less fortunate Lagosians, who would otherwise have been unable
to afford this treatment would be the ultimate beneficiaries of this
exercise”, Idris said.
“Both patients had severe osteoarthritis of the knees, a condition
characterized by worn-out cartilage at the ends of the bones that come
together to form a joint. The worn-out cartilage and some of the
underling bone is surgically removed and replaced with prostheses during
total joint replacement.”
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