The 125th inaugural lecturer at Lagos State University (LASU), Oladipo Adewole, has called for an integrated trauma care system to improve emergency and orthopaedic services in Lagos State.

Mr Adewole made the call while delivering the university’s 125th inaugural lecture at its main campus in Ojo, entitled “From Limping Steps to Confident Strides: The Journey of an Academic Orthopaedic Surgeon.”

He said, “Orthopaedic surgery restores dignity, confidence and independence; mobility is essential to productive living and overall well-being.”

According to him, impaired mobility often results in pain, emotional distress, social exclusion, loss of dignity and economic hardship.

The professor said his lecture reflected the journey of patients battling musculoskeletal diseases and his personal career in medicine, research, teaching, mentorship and public service.

Mr Adewole traced his medical heritage to his late father, Festus Adewole, Nigeria’s first trained orthopaedic surgeon, and his mother, Olufunmilayo Adewole, a former Chief Nursing Officer.

He said their accomplishments inspired his lifelong commitment to advancing orthopaedic care, medical education and healthcare delivery.

The don recommended the establishment of a tiered trauma system with level I to level IV trauma centres across Lagos State.

He proposed the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) as the state’s level I trauma centre, with level II centres in each senatorial district and Level III facilities across all local government areas.

Mr Adewole also advocated functional level IV trauma centres in every Local Council Development Area and a Lagos State Trauma System Authority to coordinate emergency care.

He urged the government to revitalise the Lagos State Limb Deformity Correction Programme through regular school screening and prompt referrals.

He recommended calcium-rich meals in school health programmes to strengthen bone development among children and insurance coverage for limb deformity correction under the Ilera-Eko Health Insurance Scheme.

Mr Adewole advocated institutionalising orthopaedic subspeciality training at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital.

On future research, he identified osteoporosis, ambulance services, clubfoot treatment, deformity correction and trauma prevention among elderly persons as priority areas.

He said greater research would improve evidence-based policies and innovative orthopaedic solutions for low-resource settings. 

(NAN)