Nigeria's southwest Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) has performed seven successful open heart surgeries, an official said Thursday.

A team of Nigerian and Indian experts carried out the surgeries on six children and one adult, Chris Bode, the Hospital Chief Medical Director (CMD) told reporters in Lagos, the country's economic hub.

The medical expert said the surgeries were carried out in the past weeks under the LUTH Cardiac Project established in 2014 in partnership with National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).

The institution intends to carry out 100 open heart surgeries in 2017, he added.

Bode said the success of the project had brought national pride to the country's health sector and would discourage medical tourism.

Speaking in the same vein, Christy Okoromah, the Head of Pediatric Cardiology Unit, said heart problems were caused by various factors, such as genetic, environmental and maternal diseases.

Okoromah said congenital defects such as holes in the heart, abnormal connections and a sundry of other birth defects could cripple or kill if left uncorrected.

She said adults may also suffer surgically correctable heart conditions such as damage to valves and a host of other conditions.

The expert told reporters that the project would enable the medical team in the country to build capacities in their various fields by engaging in such projects regularly

source : xinhua