Afe Babalola University Multi-System Hospital, Ado-Ekiti, has recorded its first kidney transplant after a procedure that lasted five hours, fifteen minutes, thus making the successful transplant the first of its kind in the Ekiti/Ondo axis of the country.

The procedure was carried out on a 46-year-old player in the Entertainment Industry (name withheld) who was diagnosed of hypertension as far back as 2017 and had not been passing urine in the last six months as a result of which he had difficulty breathing. He also required regular dialysis to keep him alive.

According to a statement by the Director of Corporate Affairs of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, Mr Tunde Olofintila, the patient who came entirely on his own to the hospital on April 12, 2021, became critically ill in February 2021.

Before coming to ABUAD Multi-system Hospital, the patient was taken to a health care facility in Ekiti State where he was being treated until there was an industrial action as a result of which he could no longer be dialysed.

Out of sympathy for his critical condition, one of the doctors at the facility gave him two options: either to proceed to another health care facility in Ekiti State or better still, go to India for kidney transplantation.

Convinced that there was no need to go as far as India, another doctor advised the patient to try Afe Babalola University Multi-system Hospital.

Convinced that his case would be resolved in ABUAD Multi-System Hospital, he started looking for kidney donors, but he was not immediately lucky to get one.

His words: “When I brought the first prospective donor, he was found not to be fit to donate. I then brought in the second prospective donor. Again, he was found not to be fit. Then I brought in a third, my brother-in-law (name withheld)”.

He added: “After all the screenings, the third prospect was found to be fit. We were all happy and convinced that we were getting a solution to the problem. It was then the series of counseling sessions for both of us, the donor and recipient, began. We were severally counseled.”

According to Dr. Stephen Oguntola, the coordinator of the Transplant Programme and lead nephrologist with the ABUAD Multi-System Hospital, “the transplant was done simultaneously on Wednesday, October 13, using a dedicated twin-transplant theatre right here in this hospital, thus making it the first successful kidney transplant in Ekiti/Ondo axis of the country.”

Oguntola added: “the kidney function started improving right inside the theatre with the new kidney producing 2.3 litres of urine before the end of surgery which lasted for 5 hours, 15 minutes.

“Thereafter, the kidney function has continued to make a sustained improvement. We are very happy about the way both the donor and recipient have responded to the procedure. Both of them are in very high spirits. In fact, the donor was discharged on October 20 and with the look of things, the recipient will be discharged in a couple of days to start his normal life after the transplant.”

Oguntola thereafter called on members of the public to avail themselves of the facilities and equipment available at the hospital, stressing that “ABUAD is an enclave of endless possibilities.”

Narrating his experience, the lucky patient stated that: “When I got here for the first time, I was surprised that a lawyer could put a gigantic hospital like this in place. At some point, I asked myself how a lawyer could think of this type of thing for humanity. This has endeared me to him the more. But for him, I would have died.

“The equipment here is unparalleled. The dialysis chairs here are very comfortable. When you sit on them, the next thing for you is to quickly fall asleep. The workers are warm, nice and caring. My prayer for Baba Afe is that he should live longer.

“I advise people with kidney problems to make their way to Afe Babalola Hospital. This place is better and it is not as expensive as people think. And in any case, what can be more expensive than a man’s life?”

Commenting on the successful kidney transplant, Aare Afe Babalola said: “This is a milestone for ABUAD, but I am not surprised because we have quality equipment that is not available in most parts of Africa. No wonder then that major health stakeholders have acknowledged our hospital as the most equipped in Sub-Saharan Africa.

“It gives me immense joy because we have succeeded in convincing people that nothing is impossible here. Our prices are affordable. We have the equipment and well-trained and experienced personnel. There is therefore no need for anyone to go abroad for any treatment whatsoever. Anything and everything can be done here. I am happy that my dream of having a functional university has been realised before my very eyes.”

(Courtesy Nigerian Tribune)

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