15 years after UMTH conduct kidney transplant

By Ladi Jossy, Maiduguri 

The Management of University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH)  has announced plans to conduct free kidney transplants for the first 20 people suffering from kidney disease  to support the vulnerable people in the northeast region.

The Chief Medical Director, Prof. Ahmed Ahidjo, made the disclosure during a press briefing held in Maiduguri on Wednesday maintaining that development comes after the hospital successfully resumed kidney transplant services a few weeks ago, a program that was first introduced in 2010.

Ahidjo promised free kidney transplant to first 20 patients on the line, and commended federal government for subsidising dialysis ,which enables patients to pay N12,000, which is less than $8 dollars as against $1000 billed elsewhere.

According to Prof. Ahidjo, the hospital aims to make the transplant one of the cheapest in the west Africa countries, while the transplant procedure will be free, the cost of drugs and consumables, estimated at N5 million, will be covered by potential donors.

The CMD appealed to donors to contribute towards procuring consumables for the next 20 patients who will undergo the transplant freely.

” This is not the first time UMTH is doing the transplant. The first time UMTH conducted kidney transplant was in August 2010,  and now the hospital has come back with full force to resume the excercise.

He said UMTH has the largest kidney center with about 85 bed capacity, adding that it is the largest in country. 

” UMTH have four fully equipped theatre room all for kidney transplant which were fully equipped with modern equipment,” Ahidjo said. 

The resumption of kidney transplant services at UMTH is a significant development, considering the high number of kidney cases in the North East region.

Previously, patients had to travel out of the country for transplants, which cost around N13.5 million for the operation alone, excluding flight and other expenses.

With this new development, patients will no longer need to incur such high costs, and the hospital’s kidney transplant program is expected to bring relief to many in need of the life-saving procedure.

He commended the former chairman of TETFUND for his  support to the hospital. He further expressed gratitude to Governor Babagana Umara Zulum for his maximum supprot for the hospital. 

He added that Gov Zulum also supported the hospital with special grant of N50 million for research on causes of Kidney diseases in the State, which he said according to findings was likely as of result of diabetes, hypertension and dehydration from the excessive heat in the State. He encouraged residents to be taking adequate water in the heat season. 

” The causes of Kidney issues for now are diabetics, highpertension and the exact causes is not yet known , but many sample were taking to laboratories and the result is awaited,” he said.