The Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB) Specialist Hospital, Minna, has recently accomplished significant medical milestones with its first brain surgery and total knee replacement surgery.
On Friday, January 16, 2025, a theatre team led by consultant neurosurgeon Dr. Uthman Uthman (MRCSed, FMCS) successfully performed brain surgery on a 19-year-old male who sustained severe brain injury and skull fracture following a road traffic accident. The procedure, which lasted two hours, was a resounding success, and the patient is currently being nursed in the newly remodelled Amenity Wing of the hospital. This achievement has significantly advanced the neurosurgical care available at the hospital.
The triumph was made possible with the full support of the hospital management, especially Chief Medical Director Dr. Bala Waziri, who has been making significant strides in transforming IBB Specialist Hospital.
Dr. Uthman explained the importance of his intervention: “I have noticed that many neurological surgical cases are referred from Niger State to us in Abuja, especially emergencies that mostly arrive late, such as traumatic brain injuries, strokes, and spinal cord injuries. These patients may pass away before obtaining care or become complicated. The absence of neurocritical care and a neurological surgeon has contributed to the preventable high morbidity and mortality from these cases.”
Dr. Uthman, who hails from Niger State, added that his efforts are part of his desire to give back to the state: “I am a trained neurosurgeon both in Nigeria and abroad. I and other concerned Nigerlites believe we can contribute to this critical aspect of subspeciality care in the state, especially in Minna, and possibly drive medical tourism from neighbouring states and beyond.”
Chief Medical Director, Dr. Bala Waziri, concurred that the desired neurocritical care in Niger State is achievable with the current commitment of Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago in providing a befitting Intensive Care Unit and radiodiagnostic equipment such as CT and MRI scans. He attributed the team's achievements to the governor's vision to revolutionise healthcare delivery in Niger State.
Similarly, IBB Specialist Hospital, a pioneer and referral centre in orthopaedic care in Nigeria, successfully conducted its first total knee replacement surgery after many decades on January 13, 2025. The surgical team, led by orthopaedic surgeons Abdullahi Mohammad and Mustapha Ibrahim, performed the operation on a 65-year-old woman with bilateral advanced osteoarthritis of the knee. The surgery, which lasted about two hours, is the first stage of a sequential bilateral total knee arthroplasty. The surgery was successful, and the patient has since commenced ambulation exercises at the VIP wing of the hospital.
These surgeries, along with the overall progressive development and expansion at IBB Specialist Hospital, have been made possible by the resourcefulness and unwavering support of the hospital management, led by Chief Medical Director Dr. Waziri.