Americans now coming to Nigeria for kidney transplants – Shettima
By Jeffrey Agbo
Vice President Kashim Shettima has said that Nigeria is experiencing a surge in reverse medical tourism, with patients from the United States and other countries travelling to the country for kidney transplants due to affordability and high-quality medical expertise.
Speaking at the Presidential Villa in Abuja during a visit by the Nigerian Association of Nephrology ahead of its 37th Scientific Conference, Shettima cited the growing reputation of Nigerian hospitals for world-class kidney care.
“There is reverse medical tourism these days fundamentally because of the level of care at some of our hospitals,” he said. “Recently, 13 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.”
Shettima acknowledged the financial burden many patients face, particularly the high cost of post-transplant care and immunosuppressant drugs. He also emphasised the need for Nigeria to invest in specialised healthcare education to strengthen its medical workforce.
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Shettima said, “When I was governor, I took 60 female students to study medicine in Sudan. About 58 of them completed their education and passed the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria licensing exams. Most of them are now in their medical residency programmes. 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 specialised healthcare education in this country.”
The Nigerian Association of Nephrology announced plans to honour Shettima with the Kidney Champion Award for his advocacy and direct support for kidney patients, including funding immunosuppressants and proposing the establishment of a specialised laboratory for post-transplant care.
The association’s 37th Scientific Conference, themed “Revolutionising Kidney Care in Nigeria: Evidence-Based Innovations,” is set to take place in Abuja from February 19-21, 2025, attracting over 600 participants, including Nigerian medical professionals abroad.
As part of its commitment to improving healthcare access, Zenith Medical and Kidney Centre recently partnered with Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital in Sokoto to perform a successful kidney transplant.
