University of Jos (UNIJOS), in collaboration with the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH), has established the Centre for Transplant Medicine for organ transplant with a view to prevent medical tourism in the country.
The vice chancellor, Prof Tanko Ishaya, in his remarks at the council chambers during the official singing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), with the management of the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH), said the institution got funds from TETfund and they have decided to use it to establish the centre in collaboration with Jos University Teaching Hospital for the benefit of humanity.
He said the aim is to ensure qualitative healthcare for Nigerians, and to discourage medical Tourism to abroad.
“A lot of people travel to far away India, China, and other European countries for this kind of treatment. If we have these services here there is no need to travel outside the country to access these services,” he said.
According to him, “We have purchased and installed all the equipment needed in the centre. They have started rendering services like breaking kidney stones, but our desire is to actually see that we commence organ transplant too within the short possible time”.
Also speaking at the event, the chief medical director, Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH),.Dr Porkop Pwopwada, confirmed that the facility is capable of transplanting all human organs.
“It could be kidney transplant, it could be any other organ that can be transplanted, harvested from another human being to the other; this is our vision.” he said.
Similarly, the acting director of the centre, Prof. Chimobi Oforah, said it had commenced operation, adding that they have the equipment and personnel to man them.
He said the basic steps is to sign the MoU and move into the next stage which is implementation while assuring the people of the state that in the next few months their services will be available to everyone.