Eric Seddy Kutortse receiving the citation from one of the beneficiaries
Chronic kidney patients who need kidney transplants will soon be able to have the procedure conducted in the country.
This follows an announcement of a planned establishment of a kidney transplant division at the Korle-Bu Renal Unit by First Sky Group.
Prior to this initiative, chronic kidney patients who needed transplant had to travel outside the country with their donors to undergo the medical procedure at huge costs.
However, the new unit when completed in September this year will enable chronic kidney patients and their donors to undergo the procedure in Ghana at a relatively cheaper cost.
The Executive Chairman of First Sky Group, Eric Seddy Kutortse, who mentioned this during an official visit to the Korle-Bu Renal Unit, where First Sky Group has been supporting kidney patients to have free dialysis treatment for the past 18 months, said the move is to find a lasting solution to the plight of kidney patients.
The visit afforded Mr Kutortse and his management the platform to interact with beneficiaries of the scheme, as well as find out how best to sustain the free dialysis programme.
“The challenges we are having here is that a lot of people are entering the scheme with no exit which is putting a lot of pressure on the facility so what we are going to do now in collaboration with the unit is to establish the renal transplant unit in Korle-Bu so others can have their transplant and exit the scheme,” he disclosed.
The executive chairman further explained that in the interim, First Sky will facilitate the visit of a specialist from Birmingham in September to have the first batch of transplant for four beneficiaries who have donors conducted in the country.
Mr Kutortse also observed that the First Sky Group will undertake some renovation works at the unit to make the place friendlier to patients.
Dr Vincent Boimah, Head of the Korle-Bu Renal Unit, said, “With this scheme, a lot of people can have dialysis at least twice a week which is adequate to keep them going in life. This support has really put the smile on the faces of a lot of the patients.”
He said the unit has over 260 patients now on dialysis, with First Sky paying a tune of GH¢6m already.
In show of their appreciation, the beneficiaries presented Mr Kutortse with a citation.
By Jamila Akweley Okertchiri