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The University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH) has expanded its clinical services with the introduction of cutting-edge endoscopic procedures, positioning itself as one of the few government-owned hospitals offering such advanced care in Nigeria.
Speaking to journalists over the weekend, UCTH Chief Medical Director, Prof. Ikpeme Ikpeme, revealed that the hospital is now the second federal institution in the country to offer advanced endoscopy, following Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital. This development comes as part of a collaboration with Massachusetts General Hospital, USA, aimed at advancing endoscopic practices in Nigeria, with additional support from Obafemi Awolowo University.
“We (UCTH) have had a basic endoscopy programme ongoing for years, but we thought it was time to upscale it and introduce advanced endoscopy,” Prof. Ikpeme explained, adding that this collaboration is set to enhance patient care significantly.
The new procedures include Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS), which offer improved diagnosis and treatment of hepatopancreatic biliary diseases. This advancement reduces the need for invasive surgeries, allowing doctors to perform precise biopsies and treatments with a fiber-optic camera.
Prof. Ikpeme highlighted that before this development, patients with conditions such as pancreatic cancer required major surgery to obtain biopsies. “But, with what we have now, we introduce a camera mounted on a fiber optic cable, and looking at the video screen, we get to the specific area, do the biopsy needed, administer the treatment, and the person is fine,” he said.
As part of the initiative, UCTH staff have undergone training in the United States and India, while additional hands-on training for staff has been conducted in Calabar. The hospital has already treated eight patients free of charge, including one from Zambia, who otherwise would have sought treatment abroad.
The CMD emphasized that the new service is a step towards making advanced healthcare more accessible and affordable. “It means improved accessibility because it would be more affordable, improved diagnostics, improved treatment, and improved outcomes for Nigeria and Africa generally. So it is a win-win for everybody,” Prof. Ikpeme concluded.
