By Haruna Gimba
The Kano State Government in collaboration with the International Islamic Relief Organisation (IIRO) has conducted free surgery on more than 60 patients suffering from urinary tract problems.
The surgery was conducted on patients with urinary tract problems like cancers, birth defects, urinary Strictures, Benign Prostatic Enlargements, hypospadias and other urogenital abnormalities of male and female patients.
Chairman of the Organizing Committee and Director General, Kano State Agency for the Control of AIDS (KSACA), Dr. Usman Bashir, stated this in a press statement issued to newsmen in Kano on Sunday.
According to him, a team of 10 Urologists from IIRO Saudi Arabia and the state-based Urologists conducted the surgery in four theater suites at Abubakar Imam Urology Centre, 
Kano.
He said the team conducted the surgery from December 21 to December 28t, 2018, adding that mop up would continue on Monday.
Dr Bashir quoted the state Commissioner of Health, Dr Kabiru Ibrahim Getso as saying, “The IIRO has contributed with shared expertise, equipment and consumables worth about N20 million. And the state government provided them with accommodation, feeding, transport and other logistics throughout their stay.
The commissioner disclosed that this kind of Urological surgery collaboration was the first of its kind in Nigeria, stressing that a door is now opened for both parties to continue with similar partnerships in the nearest future.
Dr Getso revealed that most of the patients operated were discharged while the rest were still being taken care of at the centre.
In his remark during a dinner organized by the Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, the IIRO team leader, Dr Jamal Al Barry on behalf of his colleagues expressed satisfaction with the reception accorded to them since their arrival the state.
Also in his remarks, the IIRO Regional Officer, Sheikh Abdallah bn Salem Al-howairini, said they were very happy with the initiative, adding that the Relief agency is ready to do more in this regard.
Some of the patients who benefitted from the gesture, Alhaji Saidu Ibrahim with five years urinary problems and Bilkisu Umar who suffered kidney stones thanked the state government and IIRO team for treating them free.
