FMC Umuahia performs two kidney transplants

The Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Umuahia, Abia State, has carried out two successful kidney transplants. The surgeries were done by a team of FMC doctors, led by Dr. Obi Ekwenna of the University of Toledo Medical Center, Ohio, U.S.A. in the company of Mr. James Ogbuka Umekwe.

The first transplant was performed Thursday, December 7, 2017 on a 37-year-old businessman and native of Ohafia, Mr. Oji, after the kidney of his donor, a 57-year-old civil servant, Mr. Kalu, was harvested.

The second transplant, which commenced on Friday, December 8 for 68-year-old medical doctor and native of Umuahia, Mr. Charles, was completed 12.50 a.m. yesterday. His donor was 41-year-old Mr. Innocent.

When The Guardian visited the FMC main theater yesterday, both the donors and the recipients, who were still in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), were said to be in good condition.

Ekwenna, who described the surgeries as “successful and excellent”, attributed the feat, the first in the South-East, to the dedication to his team, including the hospital management and its director, Dr. Abali Chuku.

He said: “Chuku is a strong and committed leader. I met him few years ago and he expressed desire to bring transplant to the South-East, to FMC. I made a commitment to help him through my team in Toledo. So, we have done the transplants and we did them very well, something that some people thought was impossible.”

He said his team would continue to work towards transferring skills as needs arise. Chuku said the hospital would perform 40 such transplants next year.Oji thanked the FMC for the treatment.