The Niger State Government has entered into a partnership with Zenith Kidney and Medical Centre to enhance healthcare delivery in the state.
The agreement was signed at the Council Chamber of Government House, Minna, and is designed to cover knowledge exchange, training, referrals, and consultancy, among other areas.
Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago, while speaking at the event, said the initiative is part of deliberate efforts to strengthen the health sector and address the challenges of brain drain that continue to affect medical services nationwide.
He commended the Medical Director of Zenith Kidney and Medical Centre, Dr. Olatise Olalekan, for his dedication to saving lives in Nigeria and beyond, assuring him of the state government’s support for the partnership.
Dr. Olalekan, who is also a consultant nephrologist and transplant physician, explained that the centre was established in 2011 with a focus on kidney care.
He noted that Nigerians spend billions annually on medical tourism and that the centre has since expanded to include advanced neurology procedures, laser prostate surgery, and general surgery in line with international standards.
According to him, the centre has successfully carried out over 1,200 kidney transplants in Nigeria, including 20 for Niger State indigenes, and conducts more than 1,500 dialysis sessions monthly. He added that the efforts have significantly reduced the need for Nigerians to travel abroad for kidney-related treatments.
Dr. Olalekan also disclosed that Zenith Kidney and Medical Centre is accredited to train postgraduate doctors in nephrology and urology, and that construction of a 250-bed capacity hospital is at an advanced stage.
The facility, he said, will provide more solid organ transplants and further close the gap in specialized healthcare delivery.
He commended Governor Bago for his commitment to infrastructural development and assured that the partnership would achieve its intended objectives.
