The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr Maku Sidi, has said that IBB Specialist Hospital in Minna, capital of Niger State, will commence kidney transplant soon to save Nigerians the cost of travelling abroad for treatment .
Sidi, in a meeting with journalists in Minna, said the hospital had acquired and installed the necessary equipment for kidney transplant.
He added, “We have carried out tests on some patients, using the equipment, but the transplants were completed in other health institutions outside the state.
“I can confirm to you that the tests were successful and one of the patients, a woman has since married and given birth.”
The Permanent Secretary noted that the hospital had also carried out a series of kidney dialyses successfully at the cost of N15,000 as against over N15m outside the country. This encouraged other specialist hospitals in the country to donate kidney dialyses equipment to the hospital.
He called on Nigerians to stop wasting their hard earned money on medical tourism.