The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has completed the installation of transplant and urology equipment for prostate and kidney stone treatment in seven hospitals, worth N250 million.

Umar Ali, the contractor handling the supply, who also represented Tetfund, told journalists shortly after installing the equipment at the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano (AKTH).

He described the gesture as the first in seven government hospitals at a time to benefit those seeking health assistance.

Other benefitting health institutions are Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Bauchi, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria, University of Abuja, University of Benin Teaching Hospital, University of Jos Teaching Hospital and University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, Maiduguri.

He said those seeking treatment for kidney stones and kidney failure are on the increase on a daily basis, hence intervention by Tetfund to find a lasting solution to their health challenges.

According to him, the fund has installed the equipment, tested and discovered to be in good working condition.

He added, “Doctors have started using the equipment for research and practicals in the university, but all credits go to TETFund because, without their intervention, it may not have been possible.”

Sani Aji from Bayero University, Kano, said that with modern technology, there may not be a need to cut open patients. 

He said, “Before now, after patients have been operated on, they will stay in the hospital for between 10 and 12 days before discharge, but now, they can go the same day of the operation if there are no complications. Very few centres have the facilities, and they are all private, but with Tetfund intervention, this laser surgery will help a lot.”

Przemyslaw Zugaj, one of the medical personnel invited from Poland to train doctors on how to handle the laser equipment on patients when conducting surgeries.

Mr Zugaj explained that the surgery would destroy kidney stones, that patients are checked properly, and it may not be necessary to repeat the surgery, which is cheaper.

He said that with proper handling of the laser machine, there would not be a need to open up patients, and the operation would be carried out successfully without bleeding.

(NAN)