Federal Government Launch National Guidelines For Organ Transplants Amid Rising Ethical Concerns

The Federal Government plans to introduce national policies and guidelines on organ transplants in response to several cases of unethical practices in organ donation and transplantation….CONTINUE READING

This initiative was announced by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate, during the Living Kidney Donor Day event organized by Nisa Medical Group in Abuja on Saturday.

Represented by Kamil Shoretire, Head of the Trauma and Emergency Disaster Response Division, Department of Hospital Services, Prof. Pate highlighted that 843.6 million people worldwide were affected by chronic kidney diseases as of 2017.

Prof. Pate emphasized the urgent need for new national guidelines on organ transplants due to the rising incidence of kidney problems and unethical practices in the country. He also stressed the importance of investing in awareness campaigns and praised the Nisa Medical Group for its efforts to prevent kidney-related health issues.

The minister noted that the leading causes of kidney disease in Nigeria are high blood pressure, hypertension, diabetes, and infections causing kidney inflammation. He reiterated the government’s commitment to health initiatives, expressing optimism about the future.

Ibrahim Wada, CEO of Nisa Medical Group, in collaboration with the Clarion Call Care Foundation, urged the Federal Government to implement the guidelines and called for collective action. Wada, who has been involved in the transplant field for about 10 years, highlighted the importance of celebrating selfless organ donors.

Prof. Jacob Awobusiyi, President of the Transplant Association of Nigeria, represented by Prof. Aliyu Abdu, underscored Nigeria’s capacity in organ transplantation and called for improvements in infrastructure, government policy, and financing to advance the initiative.

Prof. Abdu pointed out that while there are about 15 centers in Nigeria performing kidney transplants, most active centers are private, with only a few public hospitals participating. He advocated for government investment in transplant centers to reduce transplant tourism and attract patients from neighboring countries.

Published By: Destiny.Jnr