Kidney failure crisis: Can animal organs save lives?
Did you know that chronic kidney disease ( CKD) ranks as the 16th leading cause of years of life lost globally? It’s a serious condition, but early detection and proper management by healthcare professionals can make all the di erence.
By getting the right screenings and diagnoses, one can prevent serious outcomes like heart disease, kidney failure, and even loss of life associated with kidney diseases. Across the world, many people who need life- saving kidney replacement treatment ( KRT) don’t get it, especially in low- and middle- income countries ( LMICs) such as Botswana, where specialist healthcare is scarce, especially for people in remote areas.
Closing this gap means governments need strategies to prevent kidney issues in entire populations and make KRT affordable for everyone. To achieve fair access to KRT in the country, and globally, teamwork and collaboration with medical scientists are paramount! at means pushing for better policies, improving healthcare services, training more medical workers, educating the public, conducting research, and gaining support from governments, businesses, NGOs, and healthcare groups so that countries such as Botswana do not stay behind.
We have learned recently that in a ground- breaking medical achievement in the United States of America ( USA), a team of clinicians in a hospital in Massachusetts has successfully performed the world’s rst transplant of a genetically modi ed pig kidney into a 62- year- old man su ering from end stage kidney failure. is historic surgery, conducted on Saturday, March 16th 2024, marks a significant step forward in addressing organ shortages and advancing transplant in medical science.
How was this done? e pig kidney used in the transplant was meticulously cra ed using enhanced genetic technology to remove harmful genes and incorporate bene cial human genes, minimising the risk of rejection and infection in this 62- year- old patient recipient. So far, this patient of this pioneering surgery is said to be recovering well and has been released from the hospital. e success of this surgery not only showcases the innovative capabilities of modern medical science but also opens new possibilities in animal- to- human transplantation ( xenotransplantation). With the increasing number of people suffering from kidney failure and the increasing need for dialysis and kidney transplants, this breakthrough represents a ray of hope for those facing critical health challenges. e question remains: Where does Botswana and other African countries stand in terms of scienti c innovations aimed at improving patient outcomes and pushing the boundaries of medical science? Are we culturally ready to contemplate being transplanted with animals’ organs?
Since scientific breakthroughs of this nature o en take a long time, if at all, to reach African populations, the economically friendly approach for us is medical science collaborations with healthcare practitioners and governments in checking high- risk people for kidney problems.
Much evidence- based guidelines suggest focusing on those with conditions like high blood pressure and diabetes. Specific, simple tests like checking urine for protein, measuring other toxins in the blood, and estimating kidney function should be the overarching target. ese methods are both a ordable and e ective. And perhaps that’s where our health policies should focus on for now.
Patrick Jolomba*
Msc in Tissue engineering and Regenerative medicine. Medical scientist: UK Health Research Committee Scienti c expert member. University of Northampton International College ( UINIC) Lecturer. PhD candidate in Innovative Medical Science