NOHIL, partners tackle foot deformities, train specialists in Lagos

The National Orthopaedic Hospital, Igbobi (NOHIL) in Lagos, Nigeria, has launched a significant five-day program focused on specialized foot and ankle surgery and providing free medical care. This initiative is a collaborative effort involving Steps2Walk and the Global Health Charity and Training Foundation (GHCTF).

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This programme is important because it is not just about treating patients. It is also about transferring skills and knowledge to our specialists so that they can replicate what they have learnt in their various hospitals.

The program aims to enhance access to high-quality orthopaedic services and alleviate the burden of untreated foot deformities across Nigeria. It combines intensive surgical training for specialists with direct community healthcare, having already provided free screening, consultations, and medications to over 400 patients.

An international faculty of orthopaedic specialists from the United States, United Kingdom, Türkiye, and Pakistan are participating. They are sharing contemporary knowledge and techniques with Nigerian healthcare professionals. NOHIL's Medical Director, Dr. Wakeel Lawal, highlighted the program's importance in strengthening specialist capacity and reducing the need for Nigerians to seek treatment abroad.

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This will ultimately improve access to specialised foot and ankle services across the country and reduce the need for Nigerians to seek treatment abroad.

Dr. John Lewis Ugbo of Steps2Walk emphasized the organization's commitment to improving orthopaedic care in developing nations. He noted the prevalence of congenital clubfoot, affecting approximately three in every 1,000 births, and warned of the lifelong disabilities resulting from delayed treatment. The program focuses not only on performing surgeries but also on transforming the management of orthopaedic deformities through early intervention and sustainable capacity building.

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It is not just about coming here to do surgeries. It is about changing the approach to the management of orthopaedic deformities through early intervention, specialist training and sustainable capacity building.