…As NiDCOM applauds Japan-based Nigerian for returning lost wallet, credit card***

Nigerian medical expert based in the U.S, Dr Samson Arigbamu, has invented a stethoscope equipped with components capable of identifying adventitious lungs such as COVID-19 infected lungs immediately.

Arigbamu told newsmen on Sunday in Ibadan that the stethoscope was in production at prototype and optimisation stage.

Arigbamu has lived in the U.S for 22 years and was currently the Director of Nursing at Future Care Lochearn, a 200-bed capacity health rehabilitation centre in Baltimore, Maryland.

He said that the final product would commence by December, noting that the process can be expedited with resources from individuals, organisations or even the Nigerian government.

Arigbamu maintained that the eventual production of the stethoscope would be a great achievement and pride to Nigerian government.

“The stethoscope will be a great achievement and pride to Nigeria for the fact that her citizen invented such critical medical equipment worthy of a U.S patent. I am soliciting support from Nigerian government,” he said.

Arigbamu said that having worked in the healthcare field for over 20 years, he had seen healthcare providers including nurses, mid-level providers and physicians struggle with identifying lung and heart sounds.

According to him, “they struggle because chest x-rays, EKGs and other cardiac interrogative tests are often ordered to identify adventitious lung and heart conditions.

“Clinical issues with these expensive tests and devices are incapable of identifying adventitious sounds and providing immediate and accurate feedback.

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“Consequently, utilisation of such devices often result in significant clinical and health issues for the patients as well as a waste of valuable resources.”

Arigbamu said that in 2018, he commenced work towards inventing a digital stethoscope that could identify lung and heart sounds, interpret the sounds and immediately announce its findings to the users.

He said that the stethoscope was also capable of integrating its data into electronic medical records.

“With such capabilities, it will enhance physical assessment vital to healthcare providers and novice users.

”It will also ensure opportunities for timely intervention and prevention of further health decline in patients.

“The stethoscope is also equipped with Electronic Medical Record (EMR) integration capabilities (essential to telemedicine) in order to improve care coordination and patient information portability.

“The project received a USA patent on June 2, and is currently in the prototype phase of production in the U.S and Ukraine,” he said.

Arigbamu had been on employment with the company for 10 years and prior to that, he was a director of nursing at Manor Care Woodbridge in Baltimore Maryland for over three years.
He also owned and operated a private clinic called Upsurge Health Associate in Freeland, Maryland.

In another development, Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa, the Chairman/CEO, Nigerians In Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), has commended Mr Ikenna Nweke, a Nigerian who returned a lost wallet containing a huge sum of money and credit card in Japan recently.

Dabiri-Erewa made the commendation in a statement signed by Mr Gabriel Odu, of the Media, Public Relations and Protocol Unit of NIDCOM, a copy of which was made available on Sunday in Abuja, describing the development as a great opportunity to celebrate Nweke and Nigeria.

“All the negative information you tend to hear about Nigerians are far outstripped by the positive information that is hidden and not told.

“The likes of Mr Nweke have portrayed the image of Nigerians in the Diaspora as a unique, honest and cultured set of immigrants.

“Honesty remains the best policy. We must exhibit such behaviour in whatever position we find ourselves.

“That is the path we have chosen to take, and our country will eventually get to a new shore,” she said.

Nweke, who is a PhD student at the University of Tsukuba, Japan, and also a Teaching Assistant in the same university, said he stumbled on the wallet while climbing the staircase to buy some items for his wife at the Tsukuba centre.

Nweke, who hails from Amauzari in Isiala Mbano Local Government Area of Imo, said he was born and raised in Okpoko, Onitsha, Anambra.

He relocated to Japan in 2013 through a Japanese government-sponsored scholarship programme.

“While I was going home from university, I decided to get my wife her favourite kebab. As I was climbing the staircase around Tsukuba centre, I noticed something on the ground.

“As I drew closer, I saw that it was a wallet. When I opened it, I saw a huge sum of money, a credit card and other valuables.

“I immediately reported to the police. One of the officers was surprised and asked me why I did not take the money, I told him that there was no need for that because I was raised by responsible parents, and that I am also a Christian,” he said