At our formal launch, medical items for 50 Partial Exchange Transfusions went to the Paediatric Cardiology Unit of UCH, with talks and free checks.
The first PET Project ran on the day SmileBuilders Initiative was formally launched, 30th June, 2018, as part of an Awareness on Heart Diseases programme at University College Hospital, Ibadan. The day covered all three of our thematic areas: sensitisation, screening and support.
Health talks
Guest speakers from the Neurology and Paediatric Cardiology Units of UCH gave health talks on hypertension and on congenital heart defects, the condition commonly called hole in the heart. Dr. Bisi of the Neurology Unit gave the talk on hypertension, and Dr. Hamza of the Paediatric Cardiology Unit was the second guest speaker. The talks covered the definition, risk factors, manifestations, danger signs, care and prevention of each disease, and the role of caregivers. The audience included people living with hypertension, children with congenital heart defects and their parents, volunteers and other attendees. Questions from the audience were taken and answered.
Screening
Free eye screening (visual acuity and fundoscopy), blood pressure checks and body mass index checks were offered to about 30 people living with hypertension and some other attendees. Those found to have refractive errors, poorly controlled blood pressure or obesity were identified and counselled.
Support
Medical items to cater for 50 Partial Exchange Transfusions were donated to the Paediatric Cardiology Unit of UCH for children with Tetralogy of Fallot, a type of hole in the heart, receiving care there. Mr. Siyanbola, Director of Administration of UCH, presented the items on behalf of SmileBuilders Initiative to the children and their parents. Children who need this life-saving procedure on the UCH Paediatric Cardiology Ward have it done at no cost to their families as a result. We intend to sustain the donations and to extend the PET Project to other hospitals.
