Enugu — Chairman of the Stem Cell Transplantation Project for Africa, Dr Perry Iloegbunam has said that negotiations are on with the Lagos State Government for the establishment of the first ever Stem Cell Treatment centre.

Iloegbunam, who spoke to newsmen in Enugu disclosed that the centre is interested in partnering with the Lagos State Government in the area of operation and management.

He disclosed that the centre when operational will apart from serving the whole continent, render unique health services to the country to achieve its Millennium Development Goal (MDG) in the health sector.

Iloegbunam added that his organization, will be working in conjunction with foreign technical partners such as the Bio-Cellular Research Organization of the United States and the Laboratoires Dom AVMM Biotechnologies Sarl Switzerland to, execute the health project in line with the framework of the Public Private Partnership (PPP) and the New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD).

The stem cell therapy, according to him, can be used to cure terminal diseases and ailments such as cancer, Down syndrome (mental retardation) in children, sickle cell anaemia, genetic and chromosomal diseases, including kidney and liver diseases.

He stated that stem cell would be an opportunity for medical practitioners in the country to update and advance their skills, in addition to improving the nation's economy since Nigeria would become the hub of medical biotechnology in Africa.

Emphasizing that stem cell eliminates the need for expensive medical travels abroad, Iloegbunam said that the therapy involved the simulation of the repair or regeneration of damaged tissues and organs by transplanting new cell to replace those damaged or rendered non-functional by diseases.

According to him, "It has been proved for example that children with Down syndrome treated with stem cell transplants can attend regular schools and become useful to the parents and society rather than being liabilities."