Dr. Oluyombo Adetilewa Awojobi (March 1, 1951 – April 17, 2015) was a Nigerian Rural Surgeon, Researcher, Inventor and Humanitarian. He was best known for his services rendered at Awojobi Clinic, Eruwa (ACE) in Ibarapa East Local Government Area of Oyo State.[1]
He is credited with pioneering the local development and production of innovative, appropriate medical devices.[2]
Early life
He was born to Chief Daniel Adekoya Awojobi, a stationmaster at the Nigerian Railway Corporation who hailed from Ikorodu in Lagos State and Comfort Bamidele Awojobi (née Adetunji), a petty trader who hailed from Modakeke, Ile-Ife, Osun State in March 1951.[3] He attended CMS Grammar school between 1963 and 1969. He went on to study Medicine and Surgery at College of Medicine, University of Ibadan where he graduated with a distinction in Surgery in 1975[1] He won the Adeola Odutola prize for the Best Final Year Medical Student.[4]
Career
Dr. Awojobi started his career at the University College hospital, Ibadan as a surgical resident between 1977 and 1983. He moved to rural medical practice in Eruwa at the District Hospital on August 25, 1983.[5] He however resigned from his appointment and established Awojobi Clinic, Eruwa (ACE), on October 27, 1986 where he served till his death.[6][7]
He was known for pioneering the development of local production of innovative appropriate medical devices.[2] Equipment used in Awojobi clinic such as the operating table, autoclave, water distiller, pedal suction pump and haematocrit centrifuge were designed and fabricated by him.[8] He also produced intravenous fluids and surgical sutures locally. These factors made receiving care at Awojobi Clinic affordable and hence drew patients from distant communities.[9][10][11]
He hosted the Operation Hernia[13] charity at Awojobi clinic in 2013 and together, they operated 70 patients with inguinoscrotal hernias over a period of 6 days.[14]
Before he died, he set up the Olajide Ajayi Cancer Centre.[1]
Personal life
He was married to Tinu Awojobi, a radiographer[9] and they had 2 children, Yombo and Ayodele.[1]
Legacy
The Dr Oluyombo Adetilewa Awojobi's Prize for Best Graduating Student in Biomedical Engineering at The Bells University, Ota was endowed in his honour.[15]
A documentary about his life titled 'An Uncommon Service: A tribute to Dr. Awojobi' was screened at the iREP monthly documentary film screening series at Freedom Park, Lagos.[16]
Publications
Modified pile suture in the outpatient treatment of haemorrhoids - Oluyombo A Awojobi, 1983[17]
Abdominal incisional hernia in Ibadan - Oluyombo A Awojobi, S O Itayemi, 1983[18]
Use of Foley catheter in suprapubic punch cystostomy: An adaptation - Oluyombo A Awojobi, 1983[19]
Paediatric inguinoscrotal surgery in a district hospital- Oluyombo A Awojobi, J K Ladipo, A C Sagua, 1988[20]
Sutureless circumcision - Oluyombo A Awojobi, 1992[21]
The hospital water still - Oluyombo A Awojobi, 1993[22]
Principles of rural surgical practice - Oluyombo A Awojobi, 1998
The manual haematocrit centrifuge - Oluyombo A Awojobi, 2002[23]
A review of surgical cases and procedures in rural Nigeria - Oluyombo A Awojobi, 2002[24]
Epidural needle and intraosseous access - Oluyombo A Awojobi, 2003[25]
20 years of primary care surgery in Ibarapa - Oluyombo A Awojobi, 2004[26]
Inguinal hernia in Nigeria - Oluyombo A Awojobi, AA Ayatunde 2004[27]
Spontaneous appendicocutaneous fistula: A case report - O M Tokode, Oluyombo A Awojobi, 2004[28]
Surgical training in Nigeria: a reappraisal - Oluyombo A Awojobi, 2005[29]
The travails of rural surgery in Nigeria and the triumph of pragmatism - Oluyombo A Awojobi, 2005[30]
Atraumatic sutures can be made locally - Oluyombo A Awojobi, 2005[31]
Engineering fabrication in the rural Nigerian medical practice - Oluyombo A Awojobi, 2007[32]
Rising to the challenge of rural surgery - Oluyombo A Awojobi, 2010[4]
Rural based medical practice in Nigeria - The Ibarapa Experience - Oluyombo A Awojobi, 2011[33]
^ abVaughan-Huxley, Eyston (1 March 2012). "A remarkable surgical training opportunity in Nigeria". The Bulletin of the Royal College of Surgeons of England. 94 (3): 106–108. doi:10.1308/147363512X13189526440159. ISSN1473-6357.
^Awojobi, O. (2005). "THE TRAVAILS OF RURAL SURGERY IN NIGERIA AND THE TRIUMPH OF PRAGMATISM". S2CID74400859. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
