Buhari lauds Nigerian doctor, Olutoye over successful surgery on unborn baby

The Federal Government has hailed United State-based Nigerian Surgeon, Dr. Oluyinka Olutoye on his recent feat in carrying out a successful operation on an unborn baby with a tumour in her mother’s womb.

This is contained in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa.

Dr. Olutoye of Texas Children’s Hospital, USA, was said to have carried out an operation on a baby at 23 weeks, who suffered from a tumour known as Sacrococcygeal Teratoma.

Baby Lynlee Hope was removed from her mother’s womb, operated on and returned back. She healed and continued to grow until she was born again at 36 weeks.

Dr Olutoye is Co-Director of the Texas Children’s Fetal Center and fetal surgery team member, as well as a general paediatric surgeon in USA.

According to the statement, President Muhammadu Buhari received the news of Dr Olutoye’s unique feat with excitement and fulfilment and looking forward to meeting with him soonest.

“Nigerians are great people, making greater positive impacts in all fields of human endeavour in the Diaspora. Dr Olutoye’s feat is one of such testimonies,” the statement added.

To complement that, Dabiri-Erewa said that Nigeria was working on a National Diaspora Policy guideline geared towards regulating all engagements with all Nigerians in the Diaspora.

According to her, Nigerians in the Diaspora were of high importance to the growth and development of the country.

She appealed to other Nigerians in the Diaspora to emulate the positive image Dr Oluyinka Olutoye has given to Nigeria which earned himoluyin recognition.

Dabiri-Erewa reiterated the determination of President Muhammadu Buhari “to enhance the welfare of all Nigerians at home and in the diaspora, and unadulterated determination to continue to tackle insecurity, corruption and the economy.”

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