UNIJOS, JUTH forges partnership to establish centre for transplant medicine

By Christiana Lot

The University of Jos (UNIJOS) and Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) have solidified their commitment to advancing healthcare with the recent signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to establish a pioneering Urology Centre.

Spearheaded by Professor Tanko Ishaya, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Jos, the initiative highlighted the paramount importance of collaborative efforts in delivering essential healthcare services.
Professor Ishaya reiterated the commitment to sustaining the centre’s operations beyond kidney transplants, citing the burgeoning demand for such services and the imperative to reduce reliance on international medical tourism.

He disclosed that the collaboration had been made possible through substantial grants from the university and intervention funds provided by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), amounting to a significant investment of 1 billion naira.

This funding has facilitated the procurement of cutting-edge equipment and the initiation of comprehensive training programs for urologists, nephrologists, and other pertinent specialists, ensuring the availability of requisite skills and expertise to deliver top-notch care.

Echoing this sentiment, Dr. Pokop W. Bupwatda, the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of JUTH, the centre, to be named the Centre for Transplant Medicine, is set to revolutionize organ transplant services, encompassing a wide spectrum of organ transplants beyond kidneys.
Dr. Bupwatda underscored the pivotal role of the collaboration, emphasizing that while the initial focus would be on kidney transplants, the broader vision was to extend services to encompass other vital organs.

This collaboration, he emphasized, “holds immense significance for Plateau State and Nigeria at large, as it will mitigate the need for citizens to seek transplant services abroad, consequently curbing capital flight.”

Professor Chima Ofoha, tasked with overseeing the center’s operations, affirmed the institution’s unwavering commitment to providing accessible and affordable transplant services to all, particularly those in underserved communities. He emphasized that as long as patients can present a compatible donor, the center is poised to fulfill their transplant needs promptly.

The implementation phase is already in progress, and the center anticipates opening its doors to the public within the coming months, marking a significant milestone in Nigeria’s healthcare landscape.