Yobe State University Teaching Hospital has successfully performed its first total hip replacement surgery, marking a major milestone for specialised medical care in the state.
The procedure was carried out on Saturday on a young man living with sickle cell disease who developed avascular necrosis, a condition in which bone tissue dies after losing adequate blood supply.
The surgery was led by Dr Lawan Yari, with Dr Musa Abdulmalik, Dr Bashok Palagvi, and medical personnel Manasseh Jonah and Karumi Ibrahim also part of the team.
Yobe State Commissioner for Health, Dr Muhammad Gana, announced the development on Sunday, describing the procedure as a landmark achievement for the state’s healthcare system.
He explained that total hip replacement involves removing a damaged hip joint and replacing it with an artificial joint to restore function and relieve pain.
Gana said the latest achievement demonstrated the growing capacity of the state’s health institutions to provide specialised procedures that previously required patients to seek treatment outside Yobe.
The commissioner recalled that the Yobe State Specialist Hospital recorded another major surgical breakthrough in May when its medical team performed a complex maxillofacial operation on a 40-year-old woman.
The woman had been diagnosed with a rare non-cancerous tumour affecting her lower jawbone, which required extensive surgery.
Gana attributed the two medical achievements to the support of Governor Mai Mala Buni’s administration, particularly investments in modern equipment and healthcare facilities.
He said continued investment in specialised services would strengthen the capacity of medical institutions in the state and improve access to advanced treatment for residents.
