Estevan's doctor shortage is gradually beginning to improve.
The Mercury was informed this week that Dr. Sunday Oluwu opened a new practice Thursday in the St. Joseph's Hospital Foundation Clinic.
Olowu originally came to the city to work at the Estevan Medical Clinic in December 2010.
He and his wife, Yetunde, have three children, Olamide, 14, Eniola, 11 and Christian, 7.
Originally from Nigeria, Olowu gained his medical degree in his homeland and then moved to South Africa where he completed his post graduate studies and specialized in family medicine for which he received a post graduate degree in 2006.
Olowu's areas of specialty are emergency/trauma, gynecology, infertility treatments, diabetes and hypertension.
"Denise Hahn has accepted a position for his medical assistant and the Estevan Health Committee and St. Joseph's Hospital and Foundation will do their best to help Dr. Olowu in his new business," said Bridget Bittman, the vice-chairwoman of the St. Joseph's Hospital Foundation and co-ordinator for the health committee. "The family has settled into Estevan, purchased a residence and the children are enjoying all the sports and activities Estevan has to offer. Dr. Olowu has always had an interest in soccer and hopes to see it more active in Estevan."
The committee has also announced that three new doctors have accepted positions in Estevan and will begin work in the next few months.
Dr. Obinna Fred Isiguzo, who already had accepted a position in Estevan, has gotten through immigration procedures and will be starting with the Saskatchewan Assessment Program this September for 12 weeks.
"We hope to see him to start in Estevan this November/December," said Bittman.
Isiguzo is a general practitioner with disciplines in anesthetics, surgery, internal medicine, orthopedics, emergency, pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology (including c-sections and complicated deliveries) and psychiatry. He is married with one toddler.
On Aug. 10, Dr. Dapo Akerele accepted a job offer in Estevan. Dr. Akerele is a General Practitioner with a specialty in anesthetics and also has disciplines in chronic pain management, respiratory, palliative care, intensive care medicine, accident and emergency medicine, obstetrics and gynecology.
"Another exciting aspect he has going for him, is his wife is a Midwife," said Bittman. "They have a young family and although his wife is not practicing at the moment, it is something she would like to return to. Saskatchewan passed legislation in 2008 that allows midwifery and it has become rapidly popular."
Akerele currently resides in Kent, England and has his Member of the Royal College of general practitioners in London, England which means he should be able to skip the 12 week assessment period required by the government.
"We are working with immigration to expedite his papers and get an estimated date he could begin practise in Estevan. Dr. Akerele's interests include swimming, travelling, reading, eating out, photography, chess and Scrabble."
On Aug. 23, Dr. Brian Tshivhase from South Africa also accepted a positions in Estevan after receiving a warm welcome into the community when he toured the Energy City Aug. 15 to 19.
"Dr. Tshivhase (who likes to be called Brian) is a general practitioner who founded and runs a clinic with 21 staff in South Africa and has disciplines in anesthetics, surgery, trauma, pediatrics, cardiac and obstetrics," Bittman noted
"If immigration papers can be processed in time, Brian is scheduled for a 12 week assessment in January and could start in Estevan by April/May. Brian hopes to bring his family with him. His interests are his family, long distance running, the gym and learning the game of golf."
The committee, hospital, hospital foundation and Sun Country Health Region are courting more physicians to Estevan and plan to provide updates when offers are accepted.
Bittman encourages the public to welcome the new physicians to Estevan and let the current doctors in the city know how much they are appreciated for the work they do.
