Thirty-five years ago, the city of Nagpur etched its name into medical history by successfully performing the first kidney transplant in Central India. This landmark event on November 27, 1990, at Mure Memorial Hospital, ended the arduous journeys of patients from Vidarbha, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh to metropolitan hubs like Mumbai for treatment.
The Patient and The Mother's Sacrifice
The recipient of this historic procedure was Zulfiqar Ali, an 18-year-old engineering student from Chandrapur. He arrived at the Government Medical College in a critical, unconscious state, suffering from seizures and complete kidney failure. When doctors recommended lifelong dialysis, his mother refused to accept this fate. Upon discovering her blood group was a match, she immediately volunteered to donate one of her kidneys to save her only child.
The Pioneering Medical Team and Their Challenges
A dedicated transplant team, led by Dr Shivnarayan Acharya, Dr Vijay Shrikande, and Dr Arvind Joglekar, meticulously planned the operation. After contacting hospitals across the nation, they selected Mure Memorial Hospital as the most suitable centre. Recognizing the significance of this endeavour, senior surgeons Dr Shriram Joshi from Mumbai's Jaslok Hospital and Dr Chandrashekhar Thatte from Indore joined the effort. They were supported by a group of Nagpur's finest specialists, including Dr Kothekar, Dr Harish Warbhe, Dr Madankar, Dr Raju Khandelwal, and Dr Abhay Bhalme.
The team faced immense challenges, including an unreliable electricity supply, minimal equipment, and the fact that they were attempting such a complex procedure for the very first time. Yet, their collective determination overshadowed every obstacle. In a remarkable show of support, the nursing staff, led by Sister Ratnam, reportedly fasted and prayed throughout the lengthy surgery.
A Successful Surgery and Its Lasting Legacy
The surgery was a resounding success. The transplanted kidney began functioning immediately, and Zulfiqar started passing urine, marking a triumphant moment for Indian medicine. Dr Acharya recalls that the procedure was not merely a medical achievement but the beginning of a movement that paved the way for transplant services in Central India, offering hope to thousands.
Tragically, Zulfiqar Ali, who lived a healthy life for 11 years, later stopped his medication and regular check-ups due to overconfidence. This led to his body rejecting the kidney, and he passed away near Jabalpur in 2001.
Despite this loss, the legacy of that first surgery endured. Dr Acharya went on to perform another 10 live transplants at the same hospital. The subsequent enactment of the Human Organ Transplants Act further advanced the field by paving the way for deceased donations. To date, Dr Acharya and his team have performed over 300 transplants, a testament to that first courageous step taken thirty-five years ago.
