Plateau Records 724 Surgeries In Free Medical Outreach

Plateau State commissioner for health, Dr Nicholas Ba’amlong, yesterday said the state recorded 724 surgical operations, including 151 major and 573 minor surgeries, during its recent free medical outreach across the state’s three senatorial zones.

He disclosed this yesterday in Jos while presenting the achievements recorded during the exercise.

The commissioner said no deaths were recorded during the outreach which benefited 17,603 patients, exceeding the initial target of 6,000 persons.

Ba’amlong said the 151 major surgeries included 26 caesarean deliveries, alongside myomectomies, hysterectomies, prostatectomies, thyroidectomies and orthopaedic interventions.

He said the outreach also recorded 5,033 eye consultations, with 3,588 pairs of eyeglasses distributed and 390 cataract surgeries performed.

The commissioner added that 4,857 laboratory investigations were conducted, while 1,334 dental consultations were recorded.

According to him, other dental services provided included 893 scaling and polishing procedures, 263 dental fillings, 867 extractions, 541 dentures and two gum treatments.

He said 457 elderly persons were also enrolled in the Plateau State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency (PLASCHEMA) during the exercise.

Ba’amlong explained that the Central Senatorial Zone recorded 4,294 patients, while the Southern and Northern zones attended to 5,625 and 7,684 patients, respectively.

He said the outreach, organised by Gov. Caleb Mutfwang, provided general medical consultations, laboratory investigations, eye consultations and surgeries, dental services, specialist surgical interventions, health education and enrolment into PLASCHEMA.