Sheikh Khalifa Medical City completes 100 successful kidney transplants

Abu Dhabi, 16th Feb. 2014: The Kidney Transplant Centre in Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, a subsidiary of Abu Dhabi Health Services SEHA, succeeded in transplanting 100 kidneys from 2009 to 2013.

Sheikh Khalifa Medical City successfully completed case No. 100, entailing a kidney transplant from an Emirati father to his 8 year old son. As this marked the 100th successful kidney transplantation case, the surgery was celebrated in the presence of a number of senior officials from SEHA, led by Mr. Rashid Al Qubaisi, executive managing director of SEHA, Dr. Abdulkarim Al Obaidli, executive director for academic affairs at SEHA, and the head of the National Committee for Organ Transplantation, as well as the transplant team and senior management at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City.

Rashid, the 8-year-old boy who received the kidney transplant, is extremely happy for the successful kidney transplant from his father. Rashid and his family expressed their thanks and gratitude to those in charge of SEHA, and to the transplant team for their considerable efforts and exceptional care.

Rashid said “Two days I will never forget are when His Highness General Shiekh Mohammed bin Zayed visited my family home in Sharjah, and when my kidney transplant was completed successfully.” Rashid has excitedly shown the pictures he took on his iPad with His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed to all of his visitors, and he is extremely pleased at the prospect of leading a normal life, now that he no longer requires daily dialysis.

Rashid’s mother told of the difficulties the family faced before the transplantation, as Rashid, dialyzing him through the abdomen was such a difficult process, which sometimes took them all night. Rashid’s mother is extremely pleased by the successful kidney transplant of her son, as his suffering has been relieved and her concerns for him at school have been eased.  She prayed to the Almighty God to preserve the Sheikhs of the UAE, especially His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, for the support he gave to her son.

For his part, Dr. Mohammed Badar Zaman, head of transplant & liver Surgery in Sheikh Khalifa Medical City said that “Rashid had a successful kidney transplant and is has recovered at a very fast pace, with praise to God we believe his full recovery will be successful and that he will be back to practicing a normal life very soon. We have distinguished specialties that have extensive experiences in the field of transplanting of the kidney, even though the transfusion operations for kids need unique talents.  ”

Dr. Muhammad Badar Zaman explained that Rashid had been suffering from kidney failure since birth, with Sheikh Khalifa Medical City monitoring his condition all these years. Now that he has received the necessary treatment from his father’s kidney donation, the family can anticipate the healthy recovery of their son and father.

Commenting on this success. Mr. Rashid Al Qubaisi, Executive Director of  SEHA, stated “SEHA is keen to provide a high level of health care to residents and citizens of the UAE, in accordance with the highest international standards. The kidney transplant center at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City is very sophisticated, supplied with the latest equipment and advanced technologies. The medical team is highly qualified with immense expertise in their field of work.”

He added : “After the operation, we saw an enthusiasm spirit on the kid’s face with an ambitious smile for the future. His parents and relatives never stopped to offer him continuous support and high care, since he suffered the kidney failure all over the past 8 years, even his father donated him his kidney. This was the main reason beyond his quick recovery to practice a normal life with high outlooks.”

He added “the center receives support from His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, may God preserve him, who has issued instructions that kidney transplants for those who live and work in the UAE are to be completed without incurring any cost to the patient.”

For his part, Dr. Ali Abdul Karim Alobaidly, Executive Director of Academic Affairs at SEHA and head of the National Committee for Organ Transplants said “the center for kidney transplants in the Sheikh Khalifa Medical City is equipped to conduct the transfer of kidney transplants on a daily basis, and can provide services to hundreds of people who suffer from kidney problems; however, the issue of access to donors inhibits their ability to perform the procedures.”

He added “All the kidney transplants which have been completed so far have been due to donations from parents and relatives, so work is underway to pass a law regulating organ donation for deceased people, which will increase the number of kidney transplants, and thus healing large numbers of patients.”

The law of Organs transfusio will also include the possibility of transplants for several other organs such as liver, pancreas, heart, and other organs. This will be a great advancement, helping many of those who are ill and in need of these life saving operations.