The Association of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgeons of Nigeria (ACTSON) recently held its 7th Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference at the African Centre of Excellence, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. With the theme “Challenging Dynamics of Cardiac Surgery in Nigeria,” the event gathered medical professionals to address the evolving landscape of cardiothoracic surgery in the country.
During the opening ceremony, Prof. Uvie Onakpoya, immediate past president of ACTSON and Chairman of the Local Organizing Committee, emphasized the importance of collaboration among surgeons, perfusionists, and radiologists to improve surgical outcomes. He highlighted the role of Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex (OAUTHC) as a leader in pediatric and congenital heart surgery and encouraged participants to take advantage of the pre-conference workshop to enhance their skills.
Prof. Anietimfon Etiuma, ACTSON’s National President, noted that the pre-conference workshop on February 5, 2025, included a live open-heart surgery on a six-year-old patient at OAUTHC’s main theater. He also mentioned that the Surgical Skills Laboratory demonstrated advanced techniques in esophageal replacement surgery to equip young surgeons with practical experience. He stressed that the conference was designed to foster idea-sharing, innovation, and solutions to the challenges facing cardiothoracic surgery in Nigeria.
The Vice-Chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University, Prof. Simeon Bamire, welcomed participants and encouraged them to explore the city of Ile-Ife. Meanwhile, Prof. John Okeniyi, Chief Medical Director of OAUTHC, called for stronger collaborations among healthcare institutions to drive improvements in cardiac surgery.
The conference also featured Dr. Shanda Blackmon (USA), who delivered a lecture on New Frontiers in Thoracic Surgery and received an Award of Excellence for her contributions. Prof. Frimpong Boateng spoke on the “Challenging Dynamics of Cardiac Surgery in the West African Subregion,” recalling that Nigeria’s first open-heart surgery was performed in 1972 in Enugu by Prof. Fabian Udekwu. He addressed key challenges such as government commitment, staff training, competition with other disciplines, and technological advancements.
The conference opening emphasized the need for greater investment in local expertise, improved infrastructure, and innovation to advance Nigeria’s cardiothoracic surgery sector. ACTSON reaffirmed its commitment to reducing reliance on medical tourism and ensuring a brighter future for cardiovascular care in the country.
