UTH successfully conducts first ever kidney transplant surgery

The University Teaching Hospital has successfully conducted its first ever kidney transplant surgery.

Announcing the development, Health minister Dr Chitalu Chilufya said a team of medics and surgeons from India and Zambia successfully conducted the four hour surgery on Wednesday coinciding with Zambia’s 54^th Independence anniversary.

The minister has announced that the team was led by a lead Zambian surgeon Dr Michael Mbambiko supported by an expert surgeon from India and a team from India and in conjunction with specialty hospitals from India and the University teaching hospital.

Dr Chilufya says the successful operation eases the pressure and costs of referring patients abroad which costs government about 2million United States dollars annually.

He states that the surgery is a milestone in attaining universal health coverage and it will make Zambia become a centre of excellence in the region and in turn promote medical tourism.

The minister says there are currently hundreds of patients across the country requiring kidney transplant surgery.

The minister later visited the donor and recipient who are brothers and are in stable condition and recuperating well.

Dr Chilufya has since commended the team that was involved in carrying out the successful surgery.

The minister also officially presented the first ever kidney transplant placard to UTH senior medical superintended Dr Clarence Chiluba saying it is a symbol of freedom to renal failure patients.

And mother to the donor and recipient expressed gratitude to government and the medical team for the successful operation, saying the burden of dialysis has been eased.