By Biodun Busari

Col Oviemo Ovadje (retd) is a Nigerian medical doctor credited with the invention of the Emergency AutoTransfusion System (EAT-SET), which is an effective, low-cost and affordable blood auto-transfusion mechanism that saves patients in developing countries. 

He has patented the invention in nine countries, after pioneering this invention at the Military Hospital in Ikoyi, Lagos, where he was working at the Benin Teaching Hospital and the University Hospital in Lagos.

Dr Ovadje started working on the invention in 1989 with $120 when he realised the urgent need for a reliable and efficient blood transfusion service in their town. 

The idea of the invention was conceived when Ovadje discovered many lives suffering accidents, surgeries, or medical conditions, required immediate blood transfusions. 

He argued that the existing system was expensive, complicated to use, and required electricity to work, something that most parts of African countries are still lacking. 

Sometimes patients had to wait for hours, which could be a matter of life and death.

With his passion to help improve the situation of things in the medical profession, Ovadje’s leadership and vision-inspired people contributed, and managed to secure a location, medical equipment, and a steady supply of blood.

In 1995, he was declared best African scientist and founded EATSET Industries, in April 2001. 

The United Nation Development Program (UNDP) and the government of Nigeria funded the EAT-SET Project, with the World Health Organization (WHO) acting as the executing agency and providing assistance in the coordination of the project.

Ovadje has received many international awards including, OAU-WIPO Best African Scientist Gold Medal, Geneva Switzerland (1995), Winner Promex Medal Geneva, Switzerland (1998),

First African Winner World Health Organisation Sasakawa Gold Medal, Geneva, Switzerland, (2000), Winner ARCO Gold Medal, The Dorchester, UK, (2001) and Winner Army Council Medal, Nigeria Army, Army Headquarters, Abuja, Nigeria.