HEALTH Health

Tetfund Procures N1.75b Equipment For Seven Universities

Written by Godwin Duru

Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital AKTH has performed its first laser surgery after the Tetfund intervention

The surgery which took place shortly after a three-day workshop on urology and kidney transplant attended by doctors from seven northern universities was the first of its kind.

The machines procured by the tertiary education trust fund Tetfund were part of its intervention to tertiary institutions across the nation.

The team lead doctor, Przemyslaw Zugaj from Poland said he was at AKTH to guide doctors on how to perform surgeries using laser machines.

He further explained that the surgery would destroy kidney stones and cheaper compared to others.

“It is not necessary for one to repeat the surgery and it is cheaper”.

Consultant Surgeon Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital , Professor Sani Ali Aji said with the new modern technology patients who have undergone surgery can be discharged within hours after the operation if there are no complications.

“Very few centres have the facilities and they are all private, with tetfund intervention this laser surgery will help a lot”.

Consultant urologist University of Benin Professor Samuel Osaghae, and Dr. Haruna Usman from Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Bauchi pointed out that the project by Tetfund would go a long way in uplifting health care services in the country and reduce medical tourism.

They said the instalment of the equipment will facilitate indoor urology, urology centre for kidney, urethra bladder and prostrate surgery among others.

Head of contractors who supplied equipment to AKTH , Alhaji Umar Ali maintained that Tetfund had expended over 1.75 billion naira to procure surgical equipment for seven universities across the nation.

They include Bayero University Kano (BUK), Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Bauchi (ATBU) ,Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria, University of Abuja, University of Benin, University of Jos and University of Maiduguri.

He stressed that the project is ongoing as preparations to provide other universities with the machines are in the pipeline.

KHADIJAH ALIYU