FG hails Nigerian doctor in U.S. for successful operation on unborn baby

THE Federal Government has commended a US-based Nigerian surgeon, Dr Oluyinka Olutoye, who successfully removed tumour from a baby in her mother’s womb.

In a statement in Abuja, Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Senior Special Assistant to the President Muhammadu Buhari on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, said that Nigerian Government and people were proud of Olutoye.

The statement was signed by Dabiri-Erewa’s Media Assistant, Mr Abdurrahman Balogun, on Tuesday.

Dabiri-Erewa noted that Olutoye and his partner, Dr Darrell Cass of the Texas Children’s Hospital, carried out the operation on a 23-week-old foetus in U.S.

“The baby, Lynlee Hope, who suffered from a tumour known as Sacrococcygeal Teratoma, was removed from her mother’s womb, operated on, and returned to the womb.

“The baby got healed and continued to grow until she was finally delivered at 36 weeks.”

She stated that Buhari received the news of Dr Olutoye’s feat with excitement and fulfillment and was looking forward to meeting him.

The special assistant commended Nigerians in the Diaspora for their roles in projecting Nigeria’s good image.

According to her, Nigerians in the Diaspora are a huge potential, playing greater role in all sectors.

“Nigerians are a great people, making greater positive impacts in all fields of human endeavour in the Diaspora.

Dr Olutoye’s feat is one of such testimonies,” she said.

Dabiri-Erewa said that Nigeria was working on a national Diaspora policy guideline geared toward regulating all engagements with all Nigerians in the Diaspora.

According to her, Nigerians in the Diaspora are of much importance to the growth and development of the country.

She appealed to other Nigerians in the Diaspora to do their best to give Nigeria a positive image.

Dabiri-Erewa said that Buhari was determined to enhance the welfare of all Nigerians at home and abroad, and remained committed to tackling insecurity, corruption and economic problems.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Olutoye is a co-Director of the Texas Children’s Fetal Centre, and fetal surgery team member, as well as a general paediatric surgeon.

He has specialised clinical expertise in fetal and neonatal surgery, with specific interest in congenital diaphragmatic
hernia and complex wounds.

Olutoye received his medical degree from the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria, in 1988 and PhD in anatomy from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, U.S., in 1996.

He is a member of the International Fetal Medicine and
Surgery Society and a Fellow of the Surgical Section of the American Academy of Pediatrics and American College of Surgeons.

He is also a Fellow of the West African College of Surgeons