Cross River State governor, Prof Ben Ayade, weekend, tasked orthopedic surgeons in Nigeria to devise local local solutions to addressing bones and joints problems suffered by patients.
Ayade gave the charge during the 44th Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference of the Nigerian Orthopedic Association at the Monty Suite, Calabar.
The governor who lauded the association for the choice of Calabar as venue for the conference, with the theme: “The Burden of Geriatric Trauma”, noted that the theme of the conference could not have been more apt.
This, he said, is because “as othorpaedic surgeons, you are the greatest nightmare of the public. The sight of an orthopedic surgeon brings sanity to your life, because the truama that comes with it, is an absolute nightmare.”
Challenging the orthopedic surgeons to begin to look inward for solutions to what has become an old-age problem, Ayade regretted that “geriatric surgery, which has to do with old age, is something you cannot control. It is a natural phenomenon.”
Decrying the pains associated with orthopedic treatments, Ayade asked: “What have you orthopedic surgeons done to see how you can devise a solution for this trauma? No treatment, unless it is half treated, could come with pains. Since it is a scientific conference, l will rather leave you with these challenges.”
Speaking further on the attendant pains and trauma that come with bone surgery, he further enquired: “First, is there any way we can snap off the pain by somehow sending a code that can put the sensory nerves into absolute control so that they can put the pain under control in the process of surgery?”
Continuing, he needled the bone surgeons: “Is there a scientific possibility that we can reverse the lack of minerals in the bones? Is there a possibility to sustain muscular functions with age? It is a scientific conference, because it is scientific, it is supposed to be research oriented and the discussions are supposed to be apt.
“So, why will you, as othorpaedic surgeons limit yourselves to the current practices? After all, it is calcium and phosphate. You can also get proteins which are major properties held together by calcium and phosphate to sustain the bones at optimal performance even at old age. Orthopedic challenge is global but the solution has to be local because lifestyle is different, as our food is local.”
The governor who promised to engage some orthopedic surgeons to man the orthopaedic unit of the Cross River-German Specialist Hospital, Obudu, challenged the conference to come out with specific international statement that challenges orthodox believes.
“So I look forward to a Calabar Declaration that would scientifically question most of the previously held belief systems of medicine and othorpaedic trauma in particular.”
Earlier, Chairman of the Nigerian Orthopedic Association, Zone 3, Dr. Cosmas Ihezie, thanked Governor Ayade for his support for the conference to be hosted in Calabar.
He also particularly commended the governor for the provision of an 18-seater bus to the local Nigerian Medical Association.
