Zambia Plans New Kidney Transplant Centre at Ndola Teaching Hospital
Zambia is making significant strides in advancing kidney care following its participation in a high-level international conference in Japan, focused on improving access to kidney transplantation across Africa.
The event, sponsored by KDIGO in partnership with the Tokushukai Medical Group, brought together global and African experts to address barriers facing patients with chronic kidney disease who require transplantation.
Representing Zambia were two leading nephrologists: Dr Agrey Mweemba, National Coordinator for Nephrology Services at the Ministry of Health, based at the University Teaching Hospital, and Dr Justor Banda, Chairperson of the Renal Society of Zambia and Senior Medical Superintendent at Ndola Teaching Hospital.
The conference examined infrastructure gaps, financial constraints, and human resource shortages affecting kidney transplantation across Africa, while also considering cultural and societal factors influencing organ donation and healthcare-seeking behaviour. It offered a platform for African countries to explore collaboration through knowledge-sharing, joint training, and resource mobilisation.
Zambia played a leading role, with Dr Mweemba serving as co-chair of the workshop, placing the country at the centre of planning discussions and the selection of participating nations. Zambia also presented its progress as a “case study from an emerging kidney transplantation programme in Africa.”
Speaking on the sidelines, Dr Mweemba emphasised the importance of Zambia’s participation: “Zambia’s involvement at this level demonstrates that we are not only learning but also contributing to the global conversation on kidney transplantation. Being selected as co-chair shows the confidence the international community has in our growing programme.”
Dr Mweemba highlighted that many African countries face similar challenges in delivering transplant services, noting the opportunity for collaboration and learning from more experienced programmes.
The knowledge gained at the conference is expected to directly benefit Zambian patients, with plans to adopt best medical practices and improve access to transplant services. Among the key priorities is establishing an additional kidney transplant centre at Ndola Teaching Hospital.
“We are striving to translate what we have learned into improved care back home. This includes expanding access for patients and investing in training for our healthcare professionals,” said Dr Mweemba.
Participation in the conference is also expected to unlock training opportunities for a wide range of specialists, including surgeons, nephrologists, nurses, laboratory scientists, pharmacists, and anaesthetists.
On innovation, Zambia is exploring partnerships to improve access to affordable and consistent post-transplant medication, an essential component of successful transplant outcomes.
Dr Mweemba confirmed that the conference had already opened doors for new collaborations: “We have established and strengthened partnerships with countries within Africa and Japan. We are exploring opportunities to train our teams either within the region or directly in Japan, which will significantly boost our capacity.”
Zambia is also engaging regional partners such as Tanzania, which is developing a transplant training centre with support from Japanese institutions, further enhancing skills development opportunities.
Looking ahead, Zambia has set an ambitious vision for its nephrology services: “Our vision is to build a strong network of well-trained kidney healthcare providers who can enhance prevention, strengthen primary care, and expand access to transplant services for patients who need them.”
