Mulago conducts another four successful kidney transplants
Dr Peace Bagasha, a kidney disease specialist at MNRH, says that the recent transplants involved two male and two female recipients plus their four donors three of whom were male.
Dr Frank Asiimwe, a Consultant Urologist and Transplant Surgeon at Mulago National Referral Hospital and other experts with one of the patients who underwent a successful kidney transplant..
NewVision Reporter
@NewVision
KAMPALA - Four kidney patients have undergone successful transplants at Mulago National Referral Hospital (MNRH).
Dr Rosemary Byanyima, the hospital’s director, revealed that whereas eight patients were initially registered for transplants, four others are still under observation and preparation.
The operations were performed by Dr Frank Asiimwe, a Consultant Urologist and Transplant Surgeon at MNRH and other experts, in collaboration with visiting doctors from Yashoda Hospitals in India, led by Dr Sashi Kiran.
Dr Peace Bagasha, a kidney disease specialist at MNRH, says that the recent transplants involved two male and two female recipients plus their four donors three of whom were male.
Dr. Asiimwe revealed that the hospital aims to have the transplants handled primarily by Ugandan surgeons.
He added that currently, the list of patients waiting for kidney transplants at Mulago is long, but all cases cannot be done at once.
The hospital conducted its first kidney transplant, in December 2022.
Both the recipient and donor remain in good health, according to the medics' latest report.
Byanyima said the hospital has the necessary equipment for kidney transplants.
Currently, the facility has six kidney transplant surgeons, three nephrologists, radiologists, pathologists, nurses, social workers, nutritionists, and biomedical engineers.
Dr Rosemary Byanyima Executive Director Mulago Hospital and the board Chairperson Philippa Musoke together with other health experts who carried out the kidney transplant in a picture moment after addressing a press conference at Mulago Hospital.
During an interview on Thursday, Byanyima expressed concern over the rising cases of kidney diseases, which are among the increasing non-communicable diseases (NCDs) the hospital is managing.
Uganda, she revealed is witnessing a rise in NCDs, including kidney diseases.
A study conducted by Mulago Hospital revealed that 2% of patients with NCDs approximately one million people suffer from kidney diseases, with some requiring dialysis.
“In the 2022/23 financial year, Mulago handled over 1,082 dialysis patients. While some patients recover, others succumb to their conditions. This highlights the significant financial and logistical burden on both the patients and the hospital,” she added.
Other hospitals, such as Kiruddu Referral Hospital, Lira Regional Hospital, and Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital, also offer dialysis services.
MNRH Board Chairperson, Dr Phillipa Musoke, emphasized the importance of prevention over cure. She called on health professionals to prioritize preventive measures and urged more support for the hospital to achieve its goals.
The kidney transplant program at Mulago was initiated in 2014, involving staff training at Yashoda Hospitals, the establishment of a transplant unit, and the acquisition of the necessary equipment.