Mulago National Referral Hospital has announced plans to scale up its kidney transplant program, targeting 12 transplants in the upcoming financial year. This milestone follows the successful completion of four transplants last week, prompting optimism from the hospital’s Executive Director, Dr. Rosemary Byanyima.
Dr. Byanyima attributed the hospital’s readiness to lessons learned from its first transplant in December 2023 and subsequent procedures, which enhanced the team’s expertise in logistics, cold-chain medicine management, and patient preparation.
“We are pledging to scale up our transplant services next year,” said Dr. Byanyima. “This year, we performed our maiden transplants; next year, we’re targeting 12 kidney transplants and an additional four liver transplants. Watch this space.”
This financial year, Mulago acquired the necessary equipment and established a dedicated transplant unit, which features two theatres, two intensive care beds, a high-dependency unit, and a step-down facility. The unit is staffed by trained surgeons, nephrologists, nurses, social workers, and biomedical engineers, ensuring comprehensive support for patients.
Kidney Disease in Uganda
Uganda faces a significant burden of kidney disease, with over 1,000 patients currently receiving dialysis at government facilities like Kiruddu, Lira, and Mbarara hospitals, as well as private centers. In Mulago alone, 180 patients require chronic dialysis, with 10-15 new cases registered monthly. Dialysis costs the government over UGX 9 billion annually, highlighting the need for sustainable kidney programs such as transplants.
The prevalence of end-stage kidney disease in Uganda remains high, with 13% of patients requiring transplants. Prof. Philipa Musoke, Chairperson of Mulago Hospital’s Board, noted that non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like diabetes and hypertension, exacerbated by rising GDP and lifestyle changes, are key contributors to kidney failure.
“Patients also suffer kidney injury from severe malaria. It’s crucial to treat malaria promptly to prevent kidney damage,” Prof. Musoke emphasized.
Selection Criteria and Oversight
Dr. Peace Bagasha outlined the strict criteria for transplant candidates, focusing on patients aged 18-50 who are physically fit, stable on dialysis, and free of co-morbidities such as heart failure or complicated diabetes.
“All procedures are overseen by the medical board to ensure ethical compliance and prevent illegalities,” said Dr. Bagasha.
A Decade of Progress
Mulago’s journey in transplant services began in 2014 with technical support from Yashoda Hospital in India, which assisted in training staff, establishing the transplant unit, and procuring essential equipment. Over the years, the hospital has focused on raising public awareness about NCD prevention and lifestyle changes to reduce kidney disease cases.
With the growing momentum and experience gained from recent transplants, Mulago remains committed to improving outcomes for kidney patients in Uganda.
“This award-winning program is an opportunity to transform lives sustainably,” concluded Dr. Byanyima, underscoring the importance of education and prevention in tackling kidney disease.
