Delta state hospital set to carry out renal transplants

Delta State University Teaching Hospital, Oghara would soon begin renal transplant according to the state governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan. According to him, the hospital would commence the procedure not later than February 2014. 


He also acknowledged the increased medical tourism to the state which he said is not unconnected to the hospital's hi-tech facilities.

Speaking during a live broadcast aired by the Delta Broadcasting Service Asaba, the governor said the state under his administration is benefiting from its partnership with the University of Texas Teaching Hospital, Dallas with some of its doctors and nurses undergoing training on renal treatment and management in Dallas.

“Hopefully by February next year, the Renal Unit of the State University Teaching Hospital will start kidney transplant in Oghara in conjunction with the Texas University Teaching Hospital”, he said.

He also revealed that an additional 300 bed-facility would soon be added to the University Teaching Hospital as a result of the increasing pressure on the hospital facilities and personnel. He said this would ease the pressure on the hospital for medical attention and consequently reduce the waiting time for beds especially for surgical cases.

Uduaghan also commented on the state's free medical programme.

He said: “The programme is open to all Nigerians irrespective of states and tribes in the spirit of brotherliness and peaceful co-existence”.

“As a trained doctor, it will be harsh and inhuman for me to turn back a pregnant woman from the state's free maternal programme because she is a non-Deltan. We are all Nigerians and we have to help ourselves in areas of need”

He explained that the reason his government is focusing on primary healthcare is to reduce pressure on secondary and tertiary health institutions.