NOVA Merchant Bank has sponsored a Pediatric Surgical Intervention, as part of its 2023 Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) programme.

The event conducted in partnership with the Association of Paediatric Surgeons of Nigeria (APSON) positively impacted no fewer than 50 indigent child patients at Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) on Monday, September 18, 2023.

APSON is the umbrella body of all Paediatric Surgeons in Nigeria engaged in the treatment of surgical issues in children, the education and training of specialists in Pediatric surgery, and the enhancement and preservation of the high standards and quality of surgical care provided to children.

According to a statement issued by the bank on Tuesday, September 26, the Managing Director of NOVA Merchant Bank, Nath Ude, while speaking on the motivation behind the intervention, said: “NOVA envisions a future in which millions of people have free or low-cost access to healthcare and where unnecessary pain caused by preventable illnesses and untimely fatalities can be mitigated. This intervention is a stride towards achieving this vision.

“No child should be deprived of their promising future due to a lack of healthcare accessibility. The impact of this project will echo through lifetimes to come.”

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Emphasising the pivotal role of NOVA’s intervention, the President of APSON, Prof. Roland Osuoji, said: “In the past year, Lagos state heavily subsidized paediatric operations for children between the ages 0-12 which have resulted in a growing waiting list, stretching until 2025.

“This initiative not only reduces the backlog but also saves lives and offers hope to these deserving families.”

On her part, the Local Organizing Committee Chairman of the medical outreach, Dr Omolara Williams, while speaking on the patient selection process, said: “We surveyed our group of patients from our database and pinpointed those who were on the waiting list due to financial constraints.

“We made every effort to contact as many of them as possible, and as a result, we now have patients ranging from one to 14 years old who will receive treatment for their pediatric conditions through this intervention.”

She further stressed the need for continued regional and national initiatives to bridge the gap in paediatric surgical care accessibility.

The LASUTH Chief Medical Director (CMD), Prof. Adetokunbo Fabamwo, however, appreciated NOVA Bank for sponsoring the event, saying: “This collaboration reflects a shared vision of a healthier and brighter future for children in Nigeria.”

The Star