Update on Sadiq Sani Mahuta

Sadiq Sani, the young boy from Mahuta, Kebbi state with a neck growth has had it successfully removed by a surgical team in Usman Dan Fodio University Teaching Hospital Sokoto. The growth was diagnosed as Aggressive Fibromatosis of the neck, a malignant soft tissue tumour at the Federal Medical Centre Birnin Kebbi before referral to UDUTH.

It was a 3hour long surgery with good recovery and he was discharged on the 17th of November 2016. However this is not the end of Sadiq’s treatment as the growth is malignant and can easily recur. Thus he is expected to return in 3weeks for further treatment with chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The team of Doctors tasked with his care gave a moderate prognosis and are satisfied with the outcome of their intervention for now.

Her Excellency, the wife of the executive Governor of Kebbi state Dr Zainab Shinkafi Bagudu, Founder of Medicaid Cancer Foundation expresses her gratitude to the team for a job well done. The success of the surgery is an indication of the skills and capacity of Nigerian doctors and should serve as a confidence booster to all. She says there is room for an improved health system in Nigeria especially at the primary health care level so that patients like Sadiq are caught earlier. She further notes that no radiotherapy machine is currently working in the country including that of UDUTH. Dr Bagudu has been assured by the CMD of National Hospital Abuja Dr Momah that installation of two new machines is almost complete and are expected to be used from December 17th. It is hoped that Sadiq will be one of the first beneficiaries of the new machine.

A round of radiotherapy costs N60, 000; whilst his chemotherapy for 3 months will cost N900,000. The road to a complete cure is still tortuous and costly. So far, Sadiq’s medical bill has been covered by the Medicaid Cancer Foundation which has promised to continue to support and work with relevant health institutions in the country to improve the quality of care and of life cancer patients.