The hospital in Upward Trajectory and steady breakthroughs on health advances, Rivers State University Teaching Hospital (RSUTH), Port Harcourt, has recorded a significant milestone in specialised healthcare delivery with the successful performance of its first automated red cell exchange procedure on a patient living with sickle cell anaemia.

The achievement marks a major advancement in the hospital's haematology and transfusion medicine services, reinforcing its commitment to providing specialised, evidence-based healthcare to patients in Rivers State and beyond.

Automated red cell exchange is an advanced therapeutic procedure used in the management of sickle cell disease. It involves the selective removal of red blood cells containing sickle haemoglobin and their replacement with healthy donor red blood cells. When clinically indicated, the procedure helps reduce the proportion of sickled cells in circulation and plays an important role in preventing or managing serious complications associated with the disease.

The successful completion of the procedure underscores the growing technical capacity of RSUTH and the dedication, expertise and collaboration of its multidisciplinary healthcare team in delivering advanced medical interventions.

The achievement also reflects the visionary leadership and commitment of the Chief Medical Director, Professor Chizindu A. Alikor, to embracing modern medical technology, strengthening institutional capacity and expanding access to specialised treatments within the state. Under his leadership, the hospital continues to pursue initiatives aimed at improving healthcare standards and positioning RSUTH as a centre of excellence in specialised medical services. 


This development represents another important step in the continuous transformation of RSUTH, particularly in the areas of haematology and transfusion medicine. It also demonstrates the hospital's determination to strengthen local capacity and reduce the need for patients to travel outside their immediate environment to access advanced medical interventions.

The hospital remains committed to advancing clinical excellence, improving patient outcomes and ensuring that residents of Rivers State and neighbouring communities have access to quality and sophisticated healthcare services.

The successful first automated red cell exchange is therefore more than a procedural achievement; it is another demonstration of RSUTH's determination to expand the frontiers of specialised healthcare delivery in Nigeria.