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Olabode Adaramola
Plans are now in the advanced stage to commence Kidney transplant at the Niger State’s owned Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB) Specialist hospital, Minna, the state, capital, even as the state government has said it has expended over N1 billion so far, on the provision of healthcare services in the state.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of health and hospital management, Niger state, Dr. Mohammed Maku Sidi, stated this while addressing journalists at Press briefing at the government house, on Tuesday in Minna, the state capital.
Dr. Maku Sidi, explained that all the necessary staffs including transplant surgeons, Nephrologists, “Kidney Doctors”, clinical transplant Coordinators, Donor Coordinators, Nurse Practitioners (NA) Physician Assistants (PA) have already received intensive training within and outside the country for take-off of the Kidney transplant, department of IBB Specialist Hospital, Minna.
He stated further that the training of experts is to avoid any complication, adding that the required Machines are already on the ground and some minor kidney dialysis operations were already being handled perfectly in the hospital.
“We have all the manpower, the Machines, and all the resources that we need and the structures. IBB Hospital must be expanded “, said.
The Permanent Secretary, who argued that every Nigerian is vulnerable to health challenges including Mr. President, and any other Prominent or Ordinary Nigerian whatsoever, is however optimistic that the development will curtail the issue of Nigerians or even Africans seeking medical attention outside the country.
He said the state government has recruited 767 health workers out of which, 250 are midwives, 300 health workers, 25 consultants, among others.
He thereby called on the state government to give more priority attention to the health sector, arguing that Niger state is operating on single digits equivalent to 7percent of the total budget, but is now on double digits which is about 11percent of the total budget of the state.
“As you can see, we are moving close to the 15percent we are demanding”. he said
Meanwhile, the state government according to him has spent over N1billion on the provision of healthcare services in the state
The Permanent Secretary, in charge of the ministry pending the swearing-in of the new commissioners designates, said the fund was part of $6.4 million awarded to the state by saving one million life for ranking as one of the highest states with highest indices in the health sector in the country.
