New equipment to boost intestinal diagnostic services in LASUTH

ADVANCED Omon capsule endoscope technology would boost the diagnosis of gastro-intestinal tract (GIT) diseases to 99 per cent, the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) Chief Medical Director (CMD), Prof. Adewale Oke, has said.Oke said that the advanced non-invasive diagnostic technology was donated to boost quality medical solutions in the country and further discourage medical tourism.The N32 million worth of equipment was at the weekend donated by the Chinese government, in collaboration with Coscharis Medicals and Chongqing Jinshan Science and Technology Company to LASUTH.Receiving the equipment, Oke said that the capsule endoscope allows experts to further look into the intestine.He said: 'There are some intestines that are about 20 ft long, twisted and not easily diagnosed. The new capsule tends to go through this intestine, through those loops taking photography that are transmitted through wireless system.'So the diagnosis is about 99.9 per cent certain. This will sharpen our diagnostic skills, make correct findings, train doctors and, of course, be at par with what is happening overseas. That is a great leap from what we have,' he said.Explaining the technology, Regional Manager of Chongqing Jinshan Science and Technology Company, maker of the equipment, Jeans Yang said that the capsule is the size and shape of a pill, containing a tiny camera.'It takes pictures of the inside of the digestive tract. It is safe, capsule formulated but with indigestible protein film coating.'It is swallowed like any other capsule and is monitored through a portable viewer for a control observation, with images transmitted through the use of a wireless electronic chip.'The capsule is excreted by the patient after a duration of eight to nine hours and the videos and pictures taken are replayed and analysed through the workstation,' he said.The donated capsule endoscopic equipment is supported with free 100 units of endo-capsules worth of N15 million.Head of Coscharis Medical, a trustee group, Dr. Charles Akujobi said that Lagosians and Nigerians as a whole would benefit from the advanced non-invasive diagnostic procedures that the capsule endoscope brought to the health sector.Akujobi called on other foreign governments to emulate the good gesture as demonstrated by the Chinese government.Head of the Gastro Intestinal Unit, LASUTH, Dr. Charles Onyekwere said that it was the first of the facility in Nigeria. 'It is going to make a lot of changes. We will now be able to pick up some problems of the small intestines,' he said.
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