Surgery

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Pope Leo XIV has announced plans to undergo surgery in the coming days to remove a nodule discovered in his lung during recent medical examinations.

The 71-year-old pontiff disclosed this on Sunday during his weekly Angelus address to worshippers at St Peter’s Square in the Vatican.

He said the growth was detected at an early stage and was well localised. According to him, his doctors recommended surgery to remove it.

“The doctors believe that it is best to intervene, so, following their advice, I have decided to undergo surgery to remove it. The operation is already scheduled to take place in the coming days,” the pope said in a statement published by Vatican News, the official news service of the Holy See.

Matteo Bruni, director of the Holy See press office, said the procedure was expected to take place early in the week. He added that the pope was likely to spend about one week recovering after the operation.

A lung nodule is a small mass of tissue that can appear as a spot on chest X-rays or CT scans. The report did not indicate whether the growth was cancerous.

Pope Leo thanked worshippers for their support and prayers ahead of the surgery.

The planned operation comes weeks before his scheduled pastoral visit to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru from November 6 to 17. It remains unclear whether the procedure will affect the trip.

Leo XIV was elected pope in May 2025 following the death of Pope Francis. He is the first American to lead the Catholic Church.

By Uzair Adam

The Kano State Hospitals Management Board has ordered a comprehensive investigation into the death of a Kano-based housewife, Aishatu Umar, following allegations of medical negligence linked to a surgical procedure carried out at the Abubakar Imam Urology Centre.

The Daily Reality recalls that the incident first came to public attention through a Facebook post by a family member, who alleged that Aishatu died as a result of negligence after undergoing surgery at the specialist hospital.

Aishatu Umar, a mother of five, reportedly died around 1:00 a.m. on Tuesday. In the Facebook post, her brother-in-law, Abubakar Mohammed, said she had fallen ill several months earlier and underwent surgery at the Abubakar Imam Urology Centre in September.

According to him, Aishatu began experiencing persistent and severe abdominal pain shortly after the operation.

He alleged that she returned to the hospital several times to complain about her worsening condition but was repeatedly given pain-relief medication without a clear diagnosis.

Mohammed claimed that it was only two days before her death that medical tests and scans were eventually conducted. The results, he alleged, revealed that a pair of scissors had been left inside her body during the September surgery.

“The woman you see here is Aishatu Umar. She was my sister-in-law. She passed away around 1:00 a.m. She is survived by her husband and five children,” Mohammed wrote in the post.

He added that preparations were underway for a corrective surgery on Tuesday, but Aishatu died before the procedure could be carried out.

Describing the incident as “pure negligence,” he questioned how surgical instruments could be forgotten inside a patient and called on the authorities to investigate the matter.

The family has also appealed to the Kano State Government and relevant health regulatory bodies to probe the circumstances surrounding Aishatu’s death and ensure justice for the deceased.

Reacting to the development, the Public Relations Officer of the Kano State Hospitals Management Board, Samira Suleiman, said the Board’s Executive Secretary, Dr. Mansur Mudi Nagoda, has ordered an immediate and thorough investigation into the alleged incident.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Board expressed sympathy with the family and assured the public that the investigation would be transparent, impartial, and professional.

“The Management of the Kano State Hospitals Management Board, under the authority of the Executive Secretary, Dr. Mansur Mudi Nagoda, has taken note of the distressing report concerning the late Aishatu Umar. We extend our deepest condolences to her family and loved ones,” the statement added.

It added that appropriate action would be taken in line with established regulations if any negligence is established, stressing that patient safety remains a top priority and that the Board is committed to upholding high standards of healthcare delivery in Kano State.