A faith-based British International charity, Muslim Aid, has partnered with the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) to assist 70 indigent patients living with vascular anomalies.
Dr Shamsudeen Fagbo, Coordinator, Muslim Aid Vascular Anomalies Intervention Mission, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Lagos.
According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, vascular anomalies are abnormalities or disorders of the vascular system, either in veins or arteries.
Fagbo said that vascular anomalies or malformations are common and often misdiagnosed, noting its prevalence among children born at full term or premature was estimated at five per cent globally.
“However, in a country like Nigeria, where it is most likely under-recognised at the primary health care level, the disease is neglected and thus the true prevalence remains unknown.
“And because it affects mainly poor patients, who mostly cannot afford treatment and have lost hope, Muslim Aid is making this effort to provide them an opportunity through this free mission,” he said.
Fagbo noted that around 90 per cent of these anomalies are present at birth and never disappear, adding that interventions (surgical or medical) are usually required.
He noted that vascular anomalies constitute a huge burden to families and the health sector, stressing the importance of early detection prior to school age in order to avoid stigmatisation of affected children.
Fagbo emphasised that the mission’s goal was to launch an awareness programme that these patients could be treated.
According to him, it will also enable updated knowledge and skill transfer to local medical, nursing and physiotherapy staff in the management of these anomalies.
“It will establish a nucleus for a functional vascular anomaly programme in Nigeria,” he said.
