THE Delta State University Teaching Hospital (DELSUTH), Oghara has
recorded what is still considered a rare feat in the medical field in
Nigeria with the successful kidney transplant.
Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, a Medical Doctor who was among the medical
team in the theatre during the operation, had last year assured Deltans
shortly after a pace maker implantation that there will be kidney
transplant in the hospital this year.
Speaking to journalists in Oghara yesterday [13-01-14], Governor Uduaghan
expressed satisfaction that the transplant was a success stating that it
was another medical break through for the hospital.
“This is a happy day for me as we are able to provide this service,” the
Governor said, adding, “I know we were well prepared for this surgery and
we also have a good post surgery team.”
He disclosed that, “the hospital is overflowing with patients, so we are
planning to expand bed facilities by putting up a three hundred bed ward
for this hospital,” adding that the DELSUTH has gone into a five year
partnership with UT South-Western Medical Centre, Dallas.
“We have a five year training agreement with them to build infrastructure
and human capacity,” Dr Uduaghan said about the medical team, stating,
“what they will be charging here will be far lower than what obtains
anywhere else in the world.’ Continuing he added, ‘about two years ago, we
started subsidizing dialysis in this hospital and brought it down from
twenty two thousand Naira to five thousand Naira, the subsidy is mainly
for Deltans.”
The Chief Medical Director of DELSUTH, Dr Leslie Akporiaye said the kidney
transplant was a new innovation in the hospital disclosing that the
operation lasts just a few hours.
“A lot of preparation has been on with the provision of necessary
facilities, training and observation in Dallas and here in Oghara by staff
of DELSUTH.’
He added that this was the beginning of more of such surgeries that will
take place in the hospital.
It would be recalled that the hospital has earlier carry out hip-bone and
knee cap replacement surgeries.
Tomorrow [14-01-14] a second kidney transplant would be performed at the
hospital.