The University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH) has revealed plans to begin kidney transplantation services by October 2024.

Chairman of the Medical Advisory Committee (CMAC), Professor Datonye Alasia, who disclosed this during the Renal Department Ground Rounds presentation, stated that a significant milestone has been achieved by the collaboration of Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) through their findings in areas of equipment and external works.

“They have funded the provision of equipments and some supports to the external works and we are actually at 85% of completion and that is going to contribute to the success of the project.”

Prof. Alasia averred that the establishment of the kidney transplantation centre is a crucial ingredient of hospitals strategic plan which is aimed at expanding the hospital’s scope of Services and its full operations.

“For us, our strategic timeline is October 2024, and that is what we are working towards but of course, if all the assumptions go as we plan, it will be October because we have training of staff, people will travel, MoUs will be signed, procurement timelines will also affect us but our focus is to stay on that date and see that we achieve it.

“For today, we have the Renal Department presenting because of the planned renal transplantation and the essence is to create awareness internally and from the programme you see that it involves different professional groups such as nephrology, pharmacist, pediatricians, nurses, psychologists, and virtually everybody in the hospital. So it is a multi-disciplinary thing.

“This presentation also helps members of the team to have a better understanding of what they are expected to offer transplant patients and every aspect of the service that will influence the patients’ journey. We also believe that this would improve that multi-disciplinary team spirit”.

He stated further that the hospital has kicked off the transplant centre to show its readiness for transplantation program.

“We have kicked off the transplant clinic. While it was there, it was not structured specifically to attend to patients before transplant and post-transplant but now there is a deliberate attempt to structure it to make the public know clearly that the transplant clinic is a dedicated service.”

“We used to run within the nephrology clinic before and the urology clinic but it’s now a clinic of its own so that’s the first step. So the public should know that that service is being offered here.”

UPTH Consultant Urologist and Transplant Team Lead, Professor Onyeanunam Ekeke, assured the public that with proper screening, kidney disease can be treated and transplanted, noting that the hospital has qualified personnel.

UPTH has a large team, UPTH is set up as an institution for training, service, and for research but we are highlighting the area of service, so we have a lot of skilled personnel and we have patients that also require transplants.

“We have not started before now but we are in the process of starting the transplant programme. The present management of the hospital as part of the five years’ development programme wants to carryout this kidney transplant.

“I urged members of the people to know that when a kidney fails it can be replaced; the process of transplantation is safe”.