Sheikh Khalifa Medical City performs first ever child kidney transplant in the UAE

Abu Dhabi, May 2, 2010 (WAM) During the first quarter of 2010, the first kidney transplant for a child was performed at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City (SKMC) managed by Cleveland Clinic. The child had an uneventful operation and the clinical outcome was judged excellent. She was discharged from SKMC 10 days after surgery. The recipient, a Pakistani national, was 5 years old and the donor, who is 40 years of age, is her uncle and the brother of her father. The renal transplantation program was started in February 2007 and was created under the guidance of Abu Dhabi Health Services (SEHA) and Cleveland Clinic. SKMC is part of the SEHA HealthSystem and is owned and operated by Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (SEHA), which is responsible for the curative activities of all the public hospitals and clinics in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.
H.E. Saif Bader Al Qubaisi, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (SEHA) and the SEHA HealthSystem, accompanied by top officials from SEHA and SKMC, visited the child and her mother 10 days after surgery to check on her recovery. All who visited commented favourably on the importance of organ donation, and how special donors are for saving lives. This historic surgery has had a tremendous impact on the life of this child - she will now live, play and enjoy her life just like any other child.