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Plans additional 20 others
From Timothy Olanrewaju, Maiduguri
The University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) has conducted two successful kidney transplants, the first in 15 years.
Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the hospital, Prof Ahmed Ahidjo, disclosed this yesterday at a press conference in Maiduguri.
Ahidjo said the kidney transplants, which cost N13.5 million for each of the patients, were done successfully by a team of urologists, neurologists, anaesthetists, nurses, and other medical personnel.
“We are glad to announce that our team successfully conducted kidney transplants at our Kidney Centre,” the CMD disclosed.
He said the first kidney transplant was done in 2010. It was done then in the main hospital theatre with continuing treatment at the Surgical Intensive Care Unit.
Ahidjo explained that the hospital then decided to expand the Kidney Centre with an 84-bed capacity and four operating theatres. He said the centre was equipped with all the modern equipment to ensure effective operations.
He said the hospital plans to undertake an additional 20 transplants for 20 patients. He appealed to well-meaning Nigerians to support the exercise, as it was meant to give hope to the hopeless.
He said the recent transplants were funded through a donation of N5 million by a good Samaritan, while the rest of the costs were borne by the hospital from the federal government’s health intervention.
The leader of the team, Dr Hassan Dogo, a urologist, disclosed that the patients are in good condition after the transplant. He assured that the team will continue to monitor the patients.