By Musa Ubandawaki, Sokoto

SOKOTO: A Nigerian born medical doctor from Sokoto State, Dr. Bello Mode Dange, has earned international recognition for revitalizing a struggling pediatric department in Bulgaria, a feat that has helped secure healthcare services for thousands of children in the European country’s Black Sea coastal region.

His remarkable journey from northern Nigeria to the forefront of pediatric healthcare in Europe is being celebrated as a powerful example of how Nigerian professionals are making significant contributions to global development and healthcare delivery.

Dr. Mode currently heads the Pediatric Department of Kavarna Hospital in Bulgaria, a facility that serves the municipalities of Kavarna and Shabla, as well as communities close to the Romanian border.

Local authorities and residents have acknowledged that his arrival played a pivotal role in stabilizing the pediatric unit at a time when Bulgaria was grappling with an acute shortage of pediatric specialists, particularly in smaller towns and rural communities.

Speaking in an interview with journalis Mode attributed the department’s success to teamwork, dedication and a shared commitment to saving lives.

Dr. Mode said when people work together as a team, the burden becomes lighter and success comes naturally.

The Sokoto-born physician recalled that his medical journey began during the administration of former Sokoto State Governor, Alhaji Attahiru Dalhatu Bafarawa, when he was selected among 50 outstanding students awarded government scholarships to study medicine at the Medical University of Varna, Bulgaria.

According to him, the opportunity laid the foundation for a career that would later bridge continents and strengthen healthcare systems beyond Nigeria’s borders.

After completing his medical studies, Dr. Mode returned to Nigeria to undertake national service and worked at a General Hospital in Sokoto, where he combined clinical practice with administrative responsibilities.

He explained that he functioned both as a physician and hospital manager, performing major surgeries, Caesarean sections and managing cases in internal medicine and pediatrics, often independently, describing the experience as challenging but invaluable.

He later returned to Bulgaria with plans to specialize in anesthesiology. However, when opportunities in that field proved unavailable, he redirected his professional focus toward pediatrics, a decision he described as one of the most rewarding of his career.

According to him, children often cannot clearly express what they are feeling, making pediatrics a specialty that requires patience, empathy and the ability to understand patients beyond words.

On May 15, 2026, he assumed leadership of the Pediatric Department at Kavarna Hospital after leaving his previous position in Svishtov, a move motivated partly by a desire to be closer to his family, who reside in Dobrich.

Despite commuting daily and working between 10 and 12 hours each day, he has overseen a significant turnaround in the department, which continues to operate at full capacity despite healthcare regulations that reduced the number of available beds.

Dr. Mode disclosed that most admissions involve respiratory illnesses, particularly bacterial pneumonia and viral infections, adding that patient turnover remains high due to the increasing demand for pediatric services in the region.

He also praised the dedication of the hospital’s nursing staff and management, emphasizing that the progress recorded by the department was the result of collective effort rather than individual achievement.

He noted that the nurses know many of the children and families personally and that every case is discussed collectively, stressing that teamwork remains the key to sustaining quality pediatric care.

Dr. Mode further commended the hospital’s leadership, saying supportive management had created an environment where healthcare professionals could perform effectively and provide quality care to patients.

As his wife, also a Nigerian medical specialist and consultant obstetrician and gynecologist, prepares to relocate with their children to Kavarna, Dr. Mode said he remains optimistic about the future and committed to strengthening pediatric healthcare services in the region.

He expressed hope of spending more time with his family while continuing to contribute meaningfully to the Bulgarian healthcare system, describing himself as happy and fulfilled in his current role.

For many observers in both Nigeria and Bulgaria, Dr. Bello Mode Dange’s success story stands as a testament to the global impact of Nigerian talent, demonstrating how dedication, professionalism and resilience can transcend borders and transform lives across continents.