Vice President Kashim Shettima has noted that Nigeria is experiencing a surge in reverse medical tourism, with patients from the United States and other countries choosing Nigerian hospitals for affordable and high-quality kidney transplants.
Speaking on Thursday during a courtesy visit by the Nigerian Association of Nephrology (NAN) at the Presidential Villa ahead of the association’s 37th Scientific Conference, Shettima attributed this trend to the affordability and expertise available in Nigeria’s medical sector.
“There is reverse medical tourism these days fundamentally because of the level of care at some of our hospitals. Recently, thirteen patients from the United States came to Nigeria for kidney transplants at Zenith Medical and Kidney Centre because it is much cheaper here, and they receive the same level of expertise available anywhere in the world,” the Vice President stated.
Shettima commended Dr. Olalekan Olatise, Chief Medical Director of Zenith Medical and Kidney Centre, for his contributions to kidney care, describing him as “a very decent man who is highly altruistic” in his dedication to humanity.
However, the Vice President acknowledged the financial burden on patients, many of whom sell their homes or depend on government support to afford transplants. He emphasized that while obtaining a kidney transplant is a major challenge, post-transplant care, including the cost of immunosuppressants, remains an even greater struggle for many patients.
Reflecting on his tenure as Governor of Borno State, Shettima recounted healthcare initiatives he spearheaded, including free maternal care programs.
“At a hospital in my neighborhood, we provide a bag of rice and beans to every new mother. They record about 30 births daily, more than even the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH). Over 4,000 deliveries have been recorded in less than eight months, with all medical expenses covered, including caesarean sections,” he said.
Shettima also stressed the need for investment in specialized medical education to sustain progress in Nigeria’s healthcare sector. He recalled his efforts in Borno State to address this issue by sponsoring 60 female students to study medicine in Sudan, with 58 successfully completing their training and passing the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) licensing exams.
“The beauty of training women in medicine is that they are more likely to stay back and serve their communities. We must make deliberate and targeted investments in specialized healthcare education in this country,” he asserted.
Earlier, Dr. Olatise, who serves as the Chairman of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the 37th Scientific Conference and Annual General Meeting of the Nigerian Association of Nephrology, announced that the conference, themed “Revolutionizing Kidney Care in Nigeria: Evidence-Based Innovations,” will be held in Abuja from February 19-21, 2025.
In recognition of his advocacy and direct support for kidney patients, including funding immunosuppressants and proposing the establishment of a specialized laboratory for post-transplant care, the association announced that Vice President Shettima would be honored with the Kidney Champion Award.
