Brazil enables physicians to Nigerians kidney transplants in Lagos

The Kidney and Hypertension Hospital, the largest kidney transplant center in the world, linked to the Federal University of São Paulo (Unifesp) - Hospital and the University of Lagos, announced a partnership to empower Nigerians in medical transplants. The project will utilize the Brazilian model as a reference for the establishment of the first public center kidney transplant in Nigeria.

The project has support from Novartis, the pharmaceutical industry working with innovative research of drugs to prevent rejection in organ transplant patients. The Nigerian team will undergo training involving all stages of a transplant - the organ from capture to post-operative patients.

Medical teams from both countries are being led by Dr. José Medina Pestana, chief of the division of kidney transplants Kidney and Hypertension Hospital and president of the Brazilian Association of Organ Transplants (ABTO). Yet due to the high rates of urban violence and traffic accidents with fatalities, Nigeria has many potential organ donors.

However, lack of knowledge in the medical field for the viability of transplants, says Medina. But Brazil, in contrast, is a world reference in the field. Our challenge here is to promote dialogue on the subject, so there is family consent when there is the possibility of a donation, says the doctor.

• Tweet