ALL hope is not lost for those suffering from gastrointestinal
tract (GIT) disease, with the coming of capsule endoscope for
their treatment.
GIT diseases include cholera. dysentery which kill thousands
of people every year in the country.
The capsule endoscope is a advanced technology for treating
these diseases.
It is based on the visualisation and detailed analysis of the
GIT in real time and non-real time by the use of a capsule size
unit equipped with LED light, camera and intelligent micro-
chip electronics, efficiently fitted to take motion pictures as
the capsule travels in normal sequence within the GITChinese
Government, Chongqing Jinshan Science and Technology
(Group) Company Limited and Coscharis Medical and Foods
Limited have donated the equipment to the Lagos State
University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH).
The donors also trained some doctors from the
Gastroenterology Unit of LASUTH on how to use the new
technology.
According to the Sales Manager, of the company, Jeans Yang,
the equipment has simplified the treatment of GIT (small
intestine) problems.
Yang said the equipment is already in use in 60 centres across
the world and would support the attainment of the
Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
Managing Director, Coscharis Medical and Foods Limited, Dr
Charles Akujobi, said his company, Chongqing Jinshan and
the Chinese government would collaborate further to
improve health care in the country through skill acquisition
of capsule endoscopy technology in medical application and
training.
Akujobi, represented by the company’s Treasurer, Mrs Regina
Ewendu, said the capsule endoscope is the gold standard,
routine procedural innovation in the diagnosis of GIT
diseases.
On the application of the technology, he said: "It’s safe,
capsule size, and has capsule formulated but with indigestible
protein film coating. It is swallowed like any other capsule
and is monitored through a portable viewer from a control
observation with images transmitted through the use of
wireless electronic chip. The capsule is excreted by the patient
after duration of eight to nine years and the videos and
pictures taken are replayed and analysed through the
workstation."
Akujobi said Nigerians would benefit from the advanced non-
invasive diagnostic procedures of the capsule. The equipment
is supported with 100 units of endo-capsules worth N15
million, he added.
He urged the hospital to make proper use of it to ensure
lasting services to the patients and training needs.
Akujobi called on other foreign governments to support the
sector by providing hi-tech equipment.
"The government should also explore the benefit of public-
private partnership (PPP) to achieve total medical solutions
that would stop revenue drain of the sick on medical trip
abroad," he added.
Responding, LASUTH Chief Medical Director, Prof Wale Oke
thanked the collaborator for their kind gesture, saying the
hospital would make the most of the equipment.
He said the hospital would train more doctors to use the
equipment, adding that it is the hospital’s ambition to
overtake other teaching hospitals in the country and beyond.
"This equipment would further enhance research works of
the hospital," he added.One of the trainees and Head,
Gastroenterology Unit, Dr Charles Onyekwere said the
technology would enhance service delivery and patient care.
"It is capable of making a lot changes in the health care
delivery system of the country. The problem of small intestine
would be picked up easily through the technology," he added.
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