Uganda to commence transplants in 2025

KAMPALA - Two specialized surgeons are in Uganda to localise life-saving medical procedures such as liver, kidney and bone marrow transplants.

According to Dr Erwan Akkouche, a resident Doctor in Thoracic surgery from the University of Lithuania (Kauno Klinikos), his country has a rich heritage of medical prowess in this field of organ transplant.

Akkouche and Prof. Daimontas Milonas, a European surgeon (urologist) from the University of Lithuania are part of the visiting medical team that travelled to Uganda to evaluate the viability of conducting such complex medical procedures in Uganda to reduce flight costs and visa requirements for Ugandan patients seeking transplants.

"He has done 250 successful kidney transplants in Lithuania over the years and was the first to perform many groundbreaking transplants," Akkouche told board members of Nakasero Hospital on Friday, November 29, 2024.

Akkouche made these remarks during a board meeting at Nakasero Hospital on Friday that sought to explore the project management plan for the organ transplants project.

The Complex Surgeries and Organ Transplants Project Uganda is an initiative of Merita Health Centre in Bugolobi which is partnering with the European medics and other hospitals in Uganda to bring it to fruition.

According to Dr Jimmy Sempewo of Merita Health, who is the project's operations director, the project will be handled as a multifunctional team (MFT).

Sempewo will be assisted by John Kiwewesi who is from the same hospital to lead the project as a Non-Medical Operations director.

Dr Miriam Nakalembe and Dr Erwan Akkouche will be the project managers of this international medical venture.

"The specialized doctors and surgeons will also be key for the project as well as selected international doctors and surgeons," Sempewo stated.

Health ministry spokesperson Emmanuel Ainebyona said, "The law was passed to conduct transplants, so now they have to prepare those who have capabilities and capacity."

(L-R) Dr. Miriam Nakalembe, one of the project managers of the international medical venture, Dr. Frank Asiimwe, a consultant urologist (surgeon), Dr. Frank Asiimwe, a consultant urologist (surgeon) and Dr. Simon Luzige, CEO Nakasero Hospital interacting. (Credit: Colleb Mugume)

Dr Frank Asiimwe, a consultant urologist (surgeon) with a speciality is urology and transplant said: "In our experience in Mulago, we will need a mirror kind of team to work with, we are trying to set up; the numbers will pick up."

Asiimwe revealed that they will invite the health ministry "to officially open when we are ready".

"If we are to do the first transplant in Nakasero then we shall set the pace, we can consequently ask the Government for support," Asiimwe told the delegates.

Dr Robert Kalyesubula, a consultant nephrologist (physician) at Makerere University College of Health Sciences, said a total of 322 patients were on dialysis.

Dr Simon Luzige, the CEO of Nakasero Hospital, which hosted the Lithuanian medics, said his hospital has many dialysis patients who are willing to do surgery at the hospital.

"We are yet to do a feasibility study but now that we have additional theatres we are ready, but we want to build up our capacity in that," Luzige stated.

The CEO noted that his hospital is interested and with the legal framework in place they will embrace this development in the medical sector.

Other medics present mutually agreed that from a strategic point of view, this is a good development because the hospital needs to differentiate itself and if done well it will be a successful programme.

The medics were taken through a site inspection tour of the premises at both Nakasero and Kampala Hospital to evaluate their readiness.

The Lithuanian medics were Informed that Nakasero Hospital, and Mulago plus Kampala Hospital occasionally rely on the same team of professionals to get the work done efficiently through collaboration.

According to the project timelines, the planning phase commenced in November until December 2024 marked by stakeholder meetings, site visits and resource planning with a pivotal meeting from November 29-30, 2024.

Between December 2024 and January 2025, there will be an initiation phase with the launch of awareness campaigns, setting up facilities, and scheduling initial surgeries.

The implementation phase will kick off in February 2025. Delivering surgeries, scaling logistics, coordinating with international specialists and conducting capacity-building programmes.

According to Sempewo, the project is expected to transform Uganda's healthcare landscape by saving lives, retaining healthcare expenditures within the country and establishing Uganda as a hub for advanced medical care.

Among the expected deliverables fully operational facilities equipped for complex procedures, regularly conducted surgery and transplant sessions.

As well as trained local teams for long-term project sustainability. Another expected outcome will be streamlined logistics and patient identification systems.