By Nurat Uthman
In its quest to alleviate the challenges of medical tourism as Nigerians seek to treat various ailments, the University of Jos has installed and handed over Urology, Organ Transplant and Dialysis equipment worth One Billion Naira (₦1,000,000,000) to the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) at the Hospital’s Tissue Typing Laboratory, JUTH Permanent Site, Lamingo, Jos.
The equipment is meant to facilitate the treatment of ailments affecting the kidneys, ureter, bladder, male prostate, male and female reproductive organs and other non-communicable diseases.
Vice-Chancellor, of the University of Jos, Professor Tanko Ishaya said the project was undertaken to ease the predicament many Nigerians go through while seeking medical attention for Urological and other diseases in foreign countries.
According to the Vice-Chancellor, the University Administration, in its wisdom, decided that the equipment should be installed at the Tissue Typing Laboratory in JUTH, considering the rate at which Nigerians seek medical attention in the Hospital. Professor Ishaya disclosed that the Laboratory will form a critical aspect of the Centre for Transplant Medicine in the University’s College of Health Sciences which will soon be made operational.
The Vice-Chancellor stated that the co-housing of the Urology, Tissue Typing and Organ Transplant project by UNIJOS and JUTH will lead to the enhancement of Health Care service delivery in Nigeria, given the breakthroughs both institutions have recorded in the Health Care delivery system.
While appreciating the Federal Government through the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) for providing the intervention, the Vice-Chancellor commended the Contractor for executing the project on time and appreciated the Consultant for training staff of both institutions on the use of the equipment.
Professor Ishaya emphasized the need for proper maintenance of the equipment adding that the University will soon sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with JUTH that would serve as a model for sustainability to ensure that the equipment stands the test of time and serve its purpose.
Speaking earlier, the Chief Medical Director, of Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH), Dr. Bokop Bupwatda, represented by a former JUTH CMD, Professor Ishaya Pam, said the equipment and the new Centre for Transplant Medicine are critical healthcare projects that will bring relief to many Nigerians. He said the project will save Nigerians from spending millions of Naira on medical tourism.
