The University of Lagos, Akoka has advised the Federal Government to include the care of children with cardiac disease in National Health Insurance Scheme.
This was expressly explained by a Professor of Paediatrics, UNILAG, Ekanem Ekure during her inaugural lecture, titled, ‘A heartfelt journey of discoveries: ‘Little hearts’ genes and faces.’
Ekure who said the heart of a foetus was already beating after 21 days of pregnancy maintained that advocacy for the prevention of cardiac diseases in children with an emphasis on planned pregnancy and preconception care was a necessity.
She added that a lot of children died from cardiac diseases due to the exorbitant cost of the treatment. She, thereby, implored the government to include the intervention for children with cardiac disease in National Health Insurance Scheme.
“We are advocating that the government should include intervention for children who have cardiac diseases in the National Health Insurance Scheme.”
She added that the Rubella-containing vaccine should be added to the Expanded Programme on Immunisation in Nigeria.
“Establishing and sustaining cardiac intervention centres that provide care for children in Nigeria. Pulse oximetry should be done in all newborn babies from second day of life for early detection of critical congenital heart disease. She also suggested the widespread introduction of electronic medical records into clinical practice to facilitate the utilisation of facial digital analysis technology by clinicians.
The Vice-Chancellor, the University of Lagos, Prof. Folasade Ogunshola in her response to the lecture said, “She has presented a mind-blowing piece. She has taken us on a journey of discovery which is a journey of looking at hearts, faces, and genes.
She said, “Ekanem, now that you have successfully paid your academic due to the university, you are hereby discharged and acquainted.”
