The Tunji Olowolafe Foundation has commissioned the Gbemisola Olowolafe Centre for Ophthalmic Simulation (GOCOS), at the Guinness Eye Center, Idi- Araba, Lagos, making history as the first opthalmic surgical simulation centre in West Africa with the globally recognised EyeSi Surgical simulation.
The centre is project by the Tunji Olowolafe Foundation, in partnership with the Faculty of Ophthalmology of the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria (NPMCN), the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), and the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH).
The EyeSi Surgical Simulator, is designed to improve the training of resident ophthalmologists by applying realistic, risk-free surgical simulation.
Meanwhile, the partners assure that the centre will serve as platform or resident actors to develop and refine their surgical skills before operating on patients, with the goal of improving surgical precision, patient safety and overall eye care outcomes.
The Chairman of the Tunji Olowolafe Foundation, Tunji Olowolafe, spoke during the commissioning, explaining that he named the centre after his late wife, Gbemisola Olowolafe, as a way to preserve her legacy while contributing to the training of future ophthalmologists.
Olowolafe also commended the leadership of the partners, describing the project as a demonstration of the impact of partnerships between philanthropic organisations and public health institutions.
He also added that that the project reflects the foundation’s commitment to advancing medical education and specialist healthcare in Nigeria.
The Commissioning of the centre was described by partners as a milestone for ophthalmic education in Nigeria, adding that the centre is envisioned to strengthen specialist training and contribute to improved healthcare delivery across the Nigeria and West Africa at large.