By Asmau Ahmad
The Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, on Thursday called for establishment of more dialysis centres across Nigeria for the treatment of kidney diseases to address issue of medical tourism.
Adewole made the call at the foundation laying ceremony of the Olusola Dada Dialysis Centre at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba, Lagos.
Newsmen report that the Lions Club International, District 404A1, in collaboration with LUTH, put the dialysis centre together to provide care for kidney patients.
The minister was represented by Prof. Chris Bode, the Chief Medical Director of LUTH, Idi-Araba, Lagos.
Adewole said that the country was in need of more dialysis centres to give people suffering from kidney diseases adequate medical care.
According to him, establishing more dialysis centres across the country will address medical tourism.
“This will enable people with kidney problems to get quality treatment they are seeking abroad in the country.
“In Lagos with over 20 million people, there is a paucity of critical needs.
“One of them is the fact that we have very low numbers of dialysis centres where people who are critically ill with kidney diseases can go and get care.
“This centre has come with a great benefit, not just to LUTH, but the whole of Lagos; we need more of it in the country,” Adewole said.
Dr Naresh Aggarwal, President, Lion Club International Foundation, said that there was need for government and well-meaning Nigerians to partner to deliver quality and affordable healthcare to people.
“Many people are dying because they are not getting the right treatment.
“We want people to partner with government, so that masses can get the needed care when necessary, because if we cooperate, impossibility becomes possibility.
“I am happy that many lives will be affected positively when the centre finally begins operation, “Aggarwal said.
