The first kidney transplantation in Nigeria was done at St. Nicholas Hospital in 2001.With the success a kidney transplant done at the LASUTH, Nigerians have been called upon to patronise indigenous health facilities that carry out kidney transplant.And put the country among the best referral centers across the globe.
The Best and Affordable Kidney Transplant Centers in Nigeria
The first kidney transplantation in Nigeria was done at St. Nicholas Hospital in 2001.
It is obvious that kidney transplant can be done in Nigeria at a cheaper rate. With the success a kidney transplant done at the LASUTH, Nigerians have been called upon to patronize indigenous health facilities that carry out kidney transplant. This according to experts in Nephrology will help in consolidating their capacity, save FOREX and put the country among the best referral centers across the globe.
It is observed that Nigerians prefer to obtain organs transplant in foreign countries, including India, Dubai, UK and the US.
According to the leader of the team that successfully carried out kidney transplant at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), an Associate Professor of Medicine and a Consultant Nephrologist, Dr. Olugbenga Awobusuyi, many medics in diaspora are Nigerians. “The reasons why they travel out to overseas countries is because of power, equipment, environment, among others then. But now Nigeria has one of the best equipment and latest facilities now. All these have been well taken care of by most kidney transplant centers across the country 'he said'. It is high time Nigerians partonised indigenous centers because they parade highly skilled hands, who work in the right environment.
Agreeing with Dr. Awobusuyi, the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of LASUTH, Prof. Wale Oke, said the kidney transplant was a great feat performed by a team of indigenous medical experts in the hospital.
An expert said the kidney transplant center birthed in the hospital following the state government’s determination to stem medical tourism.
He said it is the vision of the state government to make LASUTH a foremost institute where transplants can be done, especially kidney, considering the rising cases of renal failure.
The team is not limited to kidney transplant; it can handle heart and other organs’ transplants too.
According to him, “60 percent of patients on a wheelchair at the international airport in Lagos have to do with kidney issues, and most of them are going to India or the United States for transplant, with a lot of foreign exchange involved.”
“One thing special about this exercise is that the experts are all Nigerians and from LASUTH apart from one, an associate nephrologist.”
The Cost of Kidney Transplant in Nigeria
Experts said the surgery was not free, but cost about N4.5 million compared to N8 million and above charged overseas.He said LASUTH would not accept commercial donors for an organ transplant, only from relations or suitors, with proven evidence. He said the cost of the surgery covers six months supply of drugs.
“What we are doing now is a family donation. We are also looking at going into heart transplant. We encourage Nigerians to come to the hospital for their kidney transplant at an affordable cost. We take a kidney from a family member because it makes the outcome better,” Prof Oke added.
On patients who are still bent on traveling abroad for a kidney transplant, Dr. Awobusuyi said there are many centers in the country, in private and public hospitals that can do the surgery. “Here at LASUTH, the patient will be attended to in a relaxed environment that has the best equipment.
Also, we have the best hands to perform the feat and the money involved is not as much as what it costs overseas. Out there, they get non-relation organs with all the consequences.
9 centers now offer kidney transplant in Nigeria
The number of centers offering kidney transplant increased to nine this year with the inclusion of two private hospitals on a list that already has some seven teaching hospitals.Health minister Onyebuchi Chukwu said the centers are expected to increase their capacity better than before.
He said more such surgeries could become accessible when they become covered by health insurance, insisting the National Health Insurance Scheme was working hard to expand coverage.
St Nicholas in Lagos along with ViewPoint and Garki in Abuja are the two latest private hospitals to join the league of centers that boost capacity for a kidney transplant and open heart surgery.
A total 40 other centers also offer kidney dialysis, required to manage end-stage kidney disorder in the absence of a transplant.
On Tissue Typing, we send samples to Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital (OAUTH), Ile Ife here in Nigeria. The laboratory is newly acquired and I guess they are covered by insurance too.
A pharmacist, Mrs. Modupe Oyawole, who was part of the team said it was an eye-opener to her how kidney transplant is done, “The best practices put in place went a long way in making it a success. We obtained the drugs from the manufacturers’ representatives in the country, so we obtained genuine drugs at minimal cost anybody can get anywhere. We need the government, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and other advocacy groups to come on board.
“We also will continue to get the drugs for the patients after they are discharged for about six months; we deliberately built that in, so as to ensure genuineness and affordability. A professional body will never tell a patient or client to use expired or near-expired drugs, only a quack does that. We do not compromise; hence, dugs take about N3m of the cost of a kidney transplant at LASUTH. After some time, the drugs are reduced based on the number of doses in the body system
Chief Matron Aramide Adamson said it was a collective effort that ensured the success of the kidney transplant because “we all put in our very best. Nobody wants to be an exception.”
Deputy Director of Nursing Mrs. Modupe Shode said the feat has registered LASUTH among the best facility in the world on a kidney transplant.
List of Kidney Transplants Services Providers in Nigeria
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- Primus International Super Specialist Hospital
Address: Karu New Extension Karu Abuja Municipal Abuja Nigeria
Visit Website: http://www.primushospitalnigeria.com
- Renal Dialysis Center
Address: 19B, Adeboye Solanke Street, Off Allen Avenue, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria
Visit Website: http://www.renaldialysis-ng.com
- Kidney Solutions Limited
Address: 3, Tunde Gafar Close, Off Adeniyi Jones, Near Aromire Junction, Adeniyi Jones Avenue, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria
Visit Website: http://www.kidney-solutions.com
- Medvisit
Address: 1, Fawole lane, Obanikoro, Shomolu, Lagos, Nigeria
- Zenith Medical And Kidney Center
Address: 3, Egbedi Close, Garki, Abuja, Nigeria
- Christina Specialist Hospital
Address: km 2, Egbu Road, Mbaoma Emii, Owerri North, Imo, Nigeria.
Credit Sources
Credit Sources
- The Nation online Nigeria. http://thenationonlineng.net/kidney-transplant-cheaper-nigeria/
- Daily Trust Nigeria. https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/daily/news/36968-9-centres-now-offer-kidney-transplant-in-nigeria
Last modified: 23 Jul, 2018
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