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 in Africa.
The conference, sponsored by KDIGO in partnership with the Tokushukai Medical Group, brought together global and African experts to tackle barriers affecting patients suffering from Chronic Kidney Disease requiring Kidney transplant .
Representing Zambia at the meeting are members of the Renal Society of Zambia and leading nephrologists, Dr Agrey Mweemba, National Coordinator for Nephrology Services under 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 of Ndola Teaching Hospital.
The conference focused on examining infrastructure gaps, financial constraints, and human resource shortages affecting kidney transplantation across Africa, while also addressing cultural and societal factors influencing organ donation and healthcare-seeking behaviour. It further provided a platform for African countries to explore collaboration through knowledge-sharing, joint training, and resource mobilisation.
Zambia played a prominent leadership role at the meeting, with Dr Meeemba serving as co-chair of the workshop. This role placed Zambia at the centre of planning discussions and in the selection of participating countries. The country also presented its progress as a “case study from an emerging kidney transplantation programme in Africa.”
Speaking on the sidelines of the conference, Dr Mweemba highlighted 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,” he said.
Dr Mweemba noted that one of the key lessons from the conference is that many African countries face similar challenges in delivering transplant services.
“We have learned that our challenges are shared across Africa. However, there are countries within the continent with more experience, and this creates an opportunity for us to collaborate, learn from each other, and strengthen our systems collectively,” he added.
The knowledge gained is expected to directly benefit patients in Zambia, as efforts are being made to adopt best medical practices and improve access to transplant services. Among the key priorities is the possibility of 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 looking to work with regional and international partners to improve access to affordable and consistent post-transplant medication an essential component of successful transplant outcomes.
Dr Mweemba confirmed that the conference has already opened doors for new partnerships.
“We have established and strengthened collaborations with countries within Africa and partners in Japan. We are exploring opportunities to train our teams either within the region or directly in Japan, which will significantly boost our capacity,” he said.
He added that Zambia is also in discussions with regional partners such as Tanzania, which is developing a transplant training centre with support from Japanese institutions, creating further opportunities for skills development.
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,” Dr Mweemba said.
Zambia’s active participation and leadership at the global forum signal a growing commitment to improving kidney care and position the country as an emerging leader in renal health services in Africa.
By Renal Society of Zambia
Communications
