Kidney Transplant Programme Picks Up Pace

The University Teaching Hospital in Lusaka has now carried out 39 kidney transplants since the programme launched in October 2018, with four procedures already completed in 2026. The hospital is targeting 36 transplants this year alone.

Ministry of Health National Coordinator for Nephrology Dr. Aggrey Mweemba said the growth reflects years of quiet but determined work. Local expertise has been built up, institutional capacity has strengthened, and more patients are now accessing advanced renal treatment without the cost and difficulty of going abroad.

Zambia's growing standing in the field is also drawing international recognition. Dr. Mweemba recently co-chaired sessions at a global kidney transplant conference, where Zambia presented its experience as a case study from an emerging programme in Africa. He noted that the confidence shown by the international community reflects how far the programme has come.

Plans are also in place to expand beyond Lusaka, with an additional kidney transplant centre being established at Ndola Teaching Hospital.

The first person ever to receive a kidney transplant in Zambia, Dr. Job Kasweshi, has added his voice to the effort - urging the public to trust local medical personnel and pointing to the programme's track record as proof of what Zambian healthcare professionals can deliver.