UNIVERSITAS Academic Hospital in Bloemfontein has successfully performed the Free State’s first kidney transplant at a public hospital in 10 years.
The transplant took place last Thursday and both the patient.
“This first kidney transplant at Universitas Academic Hospital is a major breakthrough in the resuscitation of kidney transplant services in the Free State,” provincial health spokesperson Mondli Mvambi said.
“This is after almost 10 years when these transplants were not performed in this hospital,” he added.
“Kidney transplantation is preferred as the most cost-effective kidney replacement therapy to manage kidney failure.”
This development is expected to give hope to renal patients in the province who faced exorbitant fees to get the procedure done at private facilities.
“This is good news for the people of the Free State and Central South Africa,” Mvambi said.
“(Without the option of kidney transplant services) only dialysis was done and it is considered exclusionary due to its prohibitive cost for universal access to the public.”
This week Free State MEC for Health Mathabo Leeto together with department head Godfrey Mahlatsi visited the transplant patient and her husband who donated the kidney.
They were joined by Universitas Academic Hospital chief executive officer Dr Balekile Mzangwa and other senior health officials.
“They are responding extremely well to the transplant,” Mvambi said.
The health spokesperson said the Free State currently has about 250 renal patients on the government register.
“We need to encourage people to donate organs whilst they are still healthy and alive, whilst not neglecting and underplaying the importance of organ donation from the deceased,” he said. – Staff Reporter
