In a bid to halt the movement of Nigerians to foreign countries for medical challenges, the Hematology Department of University of Uyo Teaching Hospital has begun the process of blood separation.
This was made known weekend in Uyo by the chief medical Director of the Teaching Hospital Professor Etete Peters when the chairman governing board of the hospital Iretioluwa Oniyide commissioned medical equipment’s worth millions of naira donated by an American Philanthropic Organization ‘’ Safe Blood Foundation of Sacramento California.
Professor Peters said that in the past whole blood was the only preparation that could be administered to replace red cells, platelets, coagulation factors in addition to what patient required this cause unnecessary administration of unwanted cells or plasma constituents.
He explained that significant advance in transfusion medicine was made when techniques became available for separation of blood in a closed system and patient could be administered specific replacement therapy.
According to him, today, whole blood can be separated into various blood components and further derivatives can be obtained from plasma by a process known as fractionation where one unit of blood can benefit more than one patient after its separation into plasma, red cell and platelet components.
While urging the people to avail themselves of the use of the facility now available the CMD re-assured the people of the hospital’s commitment to provide qualitative health care to the people.
He however called on multi-national companies and well-meaning Nigerians to emulate the kind gesture of the America Blood group by coming to the aid of the Hospital to enable it deliver better services to the people.
According to him, Government alone can no longer shoulder the responsibilities in the health sector even in the advanced countries, well- to- do- members of the society and corporate establishments always assist by supporting their health care system.
He explained that the Hospital though a relatively young institution is currently providing Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary health care services to over four million people.
He added that the hospital is poised toward ensuring that patients and visitors get the most effective service with utmost satisfaction.
’Today, we receive over 1000 patients daily and our bed capacity has moved from 200 in the last two years to over 600 which mean that we now operate zero bed utilization.
Although many of our facilities have been overstressed but we are undaunted as we will continue to partner other stakeholders in the health sector to improve the capacity and quality of the services we render’’ he state.
The CMD however appeal to visitors to the Teaching Hospital to always be patient and show understanding in realization of the enormous pressure on the health institution
