The Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre (SLBMC) has attained the significant milestone of having successfully completed ten kidney transplants.
Minister of Health, Sir Molwyn Joseph reported the achievement to the Cabinet of Antigua and Barbuda on Wednesday following the success of two more kidney transplants at SLBMC on Monday and Tuesday this week.
Sir Molwyn reported that the country is in a position to offer more transplant operations, however donors remain hesitant to come forward.
The minister urged the family and friends of those whose loved ones suffer renal failure and are on dialysis to step forward as donors.
Sir Molwyn also reported that SLBMC has now met the requirements to offer kidney transplant services to OECS countries that are without the expertise to provide it.
“All kudos to the medical practitioners, and kudos to the foundation spirit behind this particular facility which is Dr. Ian Thomas and the minister has also offered his praise to Dr. Thomas for bringing the health institution to that position where we can consistently have these types of intervention for our patients,” Information Minister Melford Nicholas said during Thursday’s post-Cabinet press briefing.
The government has long stated its intention to market the services of SLBMC which include specialised care, including kidney transplants.
The government is aiming to soon offer cardiac care and surgeries once the Cardiac Unit, which is now being planned, is launched.
