Ayade Declares Open The Nigeria Orthopaedic Association 44th Annual General Meeting; challenging science to make orthopedic surgeries less invasive and painless

The Nigeria Orthopaedic Association whose objective is to promote, develop and project the Science, Art and Practice of Orthopaedic and Allied Trauma Surgery and Rehabilitation in Nigeria with regards to clinical services is holding her 44th Annual General Meeting and Conference in CRS after 21years. 

Declaring the event open with the Theme; 'Burden Of Geriatric Trauma', His Excellency Sen. Prof. Ben Ayade has charged the Association to come together and think out of the box so they can provide solutions to highly invasive traumatic painful surgeries that is the norm in practice.

In his words; "I thank the organisers of this event for choosing Calabar the fasted growing City especially in Agro Industrialisation for their 44th Annual Meeting, Orthopaedic Surgeons and Professors remains the World's greatest nightmare as the trauma that comes with their surgical interventions cannot be over emphasized. Why limit yourself to the current practice of today, can this scientific conference generate a Calabar declaration that provides new innovative solutions to orthopedic surgeries? Can you make Orthopedic surgeries less invasive and less painful? more research is needed to break new grounds especially for the geriatric patient!

Governor Ayade charged the Association to carry out more research as he's willing to sponsor while frowning at the high cases of broken bones as a result of the high rate of Okada riders as empowered by politicians. He questioned the fact that most sports men die at a very young age even with their regular exercise which is considered medically right. 

The Governor went further to offer Orthopedic surgeons an international placement in the World class Obudu-German Hospital which has 15 specialties with Orthopedic services being one of them. “Am offering an open request for the employment of an Orthopaedic surgeon to head the Orthopaedic Department of the Obudu German Hospital which will be opened by March. His Excellency added.

Also speaking during the event, the Honourable Commissioner for Health Dr Betta Edu applauded the performing Prohealth Governor for his tremendous achievements and outstanding records in the health sector that has kept the State at the apex. "Let me present to us the result oriented Governor of our dear State, my Principal Sen. Prof. Ben Ayade who has transformed the health sector of CRS, worthy of note amongst many other achievements is the fact that he started the State Health insurance Scheme, His innovative response to COVID-19 through the use of face mask was emulated worldwide, He is paying Doctors 100% of what is earned at Federal level, has three referral hospitals across the three senatorial districts, almost done with a Pharmaceutical company WHO certified, He built and renovated several Primary and secondary facilities and of course from deep vision birthed the Cally Air which was the only flight that brought all of you to calabar when the two other airlines failed and canceled. These are few of the many achievements of Sen. Prof. Ben Ayade. We call for your support to deliver Ayade Care (orthopedic services) to Cross Riverians!

The President of the Association Prof. Kunle Olawepo amongst many other important dignitaries who spoke during the exercise commended the Governor of CRS Sen. Prof. Ben Ayade and his Health Commissioner Dr Betta Edu for their tremendous support towards the success of the Conference. "As an Association, we wish to appreciate the State Governor Sen. Prof. Ben Ayade for playing host and giving us an enabling environment to carry out a successful meeting through the immense support and synergy of his ever active and performing Health Commissioner Dr Betta Edu who has stood by this Association since last year that this programme was billed to hold but couldn't due to the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. We'll continue to work in synergy for the growth, development and benefit of cross riverians and Nigerians at large. The president Rolled out several achievements of his tenure promising that the association will work with the Government at all levels to improve health care.

Remarks during the event also came from Prof. O. O. Bassey who was the Chairman of the Occasion, the Chief Medical Director of UCTH Prof. Ikpeme Ikpeme, the Chairman of the Nigeria Orthopaedic Association Zone 3 Dr Cosmas Iheze, Prof. Ngim E. Ngim the LOC chairman amongst others. Cross Riverians has a lot to benefit from the Conference as they'll be free Complex Deformity Corrections, Knee Arthroscopic Surgeries as well as other Orthopaedic Procedures.