Delta signs MoU with US varsity for kidney transplant centre

By Austin Ogwuda

Asaba—Delta State Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, with the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center to develop a centre of excellence for kidney transplant and treatment of kidney related diseases in the state.

Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, who signed on behalf of Delta State University Teaching Hospital, DELSUTH, in Texas, as he led a delegation of  DELSUTH officials to the centre, stated that the objective of the MoU was to establish a partnership that promotes joint initiatives in the fields of nephrology and kidney transplantation between the parties.

He noted that it would take between 14 and 16 months to set up the fields of nephrology and kidney transplantation of internationally acceptable standards at DELSUTH.

Specifically, the governor said this required improvement of the Dialysis centre, Laboratory, Radiology and Theatre departments of DELSUTH into centers of excellence.

To achieve this, Governor Uduaghan disclosed that the state government would, in the next 10 months, enhance the infrastructure and equipment at DELSUTH as well as the capacity of the personnel.

He said the personnel at DELSUTH would be sent to UTSMC for specialization and refresher courses to enable them cope with the new facilities and discharge their duties efficiently.

Dr. Uduaghan noted that the overall objective was to make the facilities for nephrology and kidney transplant available and at a cheaper rate for the people.