UTH conducts three kidney transplants in three days

THE University Teaching Hospital (UTH) Adult Hospital has successfully completed three kidney transplants in three days, from November 19 to 21, bringing the total number of transplants performed this year to 11.

The three-day kidney transplant camp, conducted in partnership with the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Global Initiative, underscored the hospital’s expanding capacity to conduct complex, life-saving surgeries locally.

The collaboration is anchored on the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the Ministry of Health and the ACS, a partnership now producing remarkable results.

Hospital senior medical superintendent Dr Charles Mbewe said the milestone reflects the institution’s commitment to advancing specialised medical services in Zambia.

“Through strengthened partnerships and investment in local capacity, we are moving toward a future where patients can access world-class transplant services without leaving the country. The growing expertise of our transplant team is a testament to what our health system can achieve,” Dr Mbewe said.

He commended both the visiting ACS team and the local surgeons for their dedication in successfully conducting the procedures.

Dr Mbewe expressed confidence that the ongoing skills transfer will soon culminate in a fully established local team of kidney transplant surgeons capable of independently delivering these life-saving operations.

And National Coordinator for Nephrology Services Dr Aggrey Mweemba said UTH Adult Hospital is on course to meet its annual target.

“We have performed eight kidney transplants this year, and we have now completed three more, bringing the total to 11. Our target for 2025 is 15 kidney transplants, and with additional procedures planned before the end of this month, we are firmly on track to achieve this goal,” Dr Mweemba said.

The transplant team, led by surgical lead for Kidney Transplant and Academic Head of the Department of Surgery at UTH Adult Hospital, Dr Victor Mapulanga, included Dr Bassem Wardie, Dr Micheal Silumbe and Dr Emmanuel Liche.

Dr Mapulanga said all recipients are recovering well and noted that by the end of 2026, UTH Adult Hospital is expected to conduct kidney transplant surgeries independently, marking a major step toward national self-sufficiency in advanced surgical care.

Visiting ACS transplant surgeon Dr Amy Lu commended UTH Adult Hospital for the progress made, stating that Zambian doctors are capable and will be able to perform the procedures independently by next year.

This is according to a statement issued by the hospital’s public relations officer, Mwiza Mwiya.

(Mwebantu, Sunday, 23rd November, 2025)