The Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Umuahia, Abia State has successfully carried out its first kidney transplant on two patients on Friday about 10:00 am.
The kidney transplant which commenced on Thursday December 7, was conducted on the patients free of charge.
The operation, which lasted for more than ten hours from procurement of kidney from the donor to actual transplanting for the recipient, was carried out by a team of surgeons led by Dr Obi Ekwenna from University of Toledo Medical centre, USA and other surgeons from FMC Umuahia.
According to the CMD of FMC Umuahia, Dr Abali Chuku, the decision to carry out the surgery free of charge was aimed at offering kidney transplant services to improve quality of life, minimise medical tourism as well as provide affordable kidney transplantation in Nigeria.
Relatives of the beneficiaries who have been undergoing dialysis were full of joy for the success of the operation and hoped for sustainability of the service.
One of the beneficiaries, 34 year old Orji Ogbonnaya, who has been undergoing dialysis for four years expressed gratitude for the gesture extended to them hinting that it was a great opportunity for those who are not financially buoyant to afford to travel abroad for such surgeries.
Chuku stated that the incidence of kidney diseases is about seven percent of admitted patients. The alternative which is usually very expensive is kidney transplantation and a lot of them cannot afford it and it becomes a bit challenging for such patients and the dialysis cost is also quite exorbitant.
‘’This kidney transplant is a skilled transfer session which the FMC hopes to continue to run for four years to enable the centre fully optimise the transfer of skills from the partnership with the University of Toledo Medical Centre,” he added.
Dr Obi Ekwenna said the entire procedure was successful as a result of combined team effort, adding that both the donors and recipients are currently doing well.
