Niger State Governor, Mohammad Umaru Bago, has observed how brain drain has negatively affected the health sector in the country, assuring that his administration is taking deliberate steps to reverse the trend by investing heavily in the state’s health sector.

Governor Bago made the observation while signing a memorandum of understanding with the Zenith Kidney and Medical Centre for effective healthcare delivery in Niger.

The partnership was signed at the Council Chamber, Government House, Minna.

The governor had explained that the partnership is multiphased, as it will involve knowledge exchange, training, making referrals, and consultancy, among others.

He, however, lauded the Medical Director of the Zenith Kidney and Medical Centre for his selfless efforts at saving lives in Nigeria and beyond and promised his support to the centre.

Earlier in his remarks, the Medical Director of Zenith Kidney and Medical Centre, who doubles as a consultant nephrologist and transplant physician, Dr. Olatise Olalekan, revealed that the centre was established in 2011 with a focus on kidney care.

Dr. Olalekan noted that over the years, the centre had discovered the huge amount of money Nigerians spend on medical tourism abroad and decided to now consider other areas of health conditions, such as advanced neurology procedures, laser surgery for prostate conditions, and general surgery, all in line with international standards.

Olatise hinted that the Centre has so far carried out over 1,200 kidney transplants in Nigeria, out of which 20 are Nigerlites, and has done over 1,500 dialysis sessions monthly, pointing out that the efforts have reduced the rate of medical tourism for kidney transplants abroad.

He further stated that the centre is accredited to train postgraduate Doctors, especially in the areas of nephrology and urology, and that construction of a 250-bed capacity hospital has reached an advanced stage, where more solid organ transplants will be conducted to reduce the existing gap in that area.

The medical director praised Bago for the ongoing infrastructural development in the state and for the partnership, promising that the centre will ensure the partnership achieves the desired objectives.