The Korle Bu Teaching Hospital last week successfully performed kidney transplant for two patients. For the first, the team was made up of Ghanaian health professionals who are all from Korle Bu, with the notable exception of Dr. Rajeev Sood, an Indian transplant surgeon who was at hand to provide supervisory support and guidance. Dr. Sood was accompanied by a technician.

According to the Head of Surgery, Prof J.E. Mensah, at a press briefing yesterday, the patients underwent a rigorous selection process to ensure that both the donor and recipient were compatible, reducing the risk of organ rejection.

He said an independent ethics committee provided ethical oversight to ensure guidance throughout the transplant process. Paying tribute to the multidisciplinary team that ensured the success of the operations, he mentioned the various professionals involved, including nephrologists, surgeons, anesthetists, critical care doctors and nurses, perioperative nurses, ward nurses, clinical psychologists, pharmacists, dieticians, radiologists and radiographers, cardiologists, biomedical engineers, orderlies, accountants, administrative staff, and other clinical and non-clinical staff.

Prof. Mensah also praised the Chief Executive of the hospital, Dr. Opoku Ware Ampomah, for his vision and support in institutionalizing organ transplantation as a regular service in Korle Bu. He also expressed gratitude to the Executive Chairman of The First Sky Group for fully funding the transplantation program and continuing to provide financial support for future kidney transplantations.

The procedures were successful, and Prof. Mensah mentioned that “the donors have gone home, and the receivers will also be discharged on Monday,” adding that “they have started producing urine.”

Dr. Opoku Ware Ampomah, the Chief Executive, mentioned that the hospital had the skills to undertake kidney transplantations and expressed his happiness that they were finally doing it themselves. He praised the team for making the hospital’s dream a reality and also recognized Mr. Eric Seddy Kutortse, the Executive Chairman of First Sky Group, and the company’s staff for sponsoring this great cause. Dr. Ampomah highlighted that the company had been the sole sponsor of free dialysis for renal patients since 2016 and continued to support dialysis even during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Prof. Vincent Boima, the Head of Nephrology, expressed his happiness with the accomplishment, emphasizing that kidney transplantation is the ultimate cure for end-stage kidney failure and a long-term survival treatment. He disclosed that the procedures involved two male recipients and two female donors. He was happy that the transplant was done by a local team.

Prof. Mathew Kyei, the leader of the Korle Bu Kidney transplantation team, revealed that preparations were underway to perform another set of three kidney transplantations in August this year.

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