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The Chief Medical Director of the Abia State Specialist Hospital and Diagnostic Centre, Dr. Chimezie Okwuonu, has achieved a groundbreaking milestone by being elected as a board member of the International Society for Apheresis (ISFA). This historic appointment makes Dr. Okwuonu the first African-based doctor and only the second Black individual ever to serve on the board of the prestigious global medical body.
Dr. Okwuonuβs election is a recognition of his outstanding contributions to the field of nephrology and therapeutic apheresis, particularly in low-resource settings. It also marks a major win for Nigerian and African representation in global medical decision-making and policy advocacy.
Reacting to the news, Dr. Okwuonu expressed gratitude for the honor and pledged to use the platform to push for greater global collaboration on kidney health, especially in Africa. He emphasized the urgent need to improve access to kidney transplant programs across the continent, citing rising cases of kidney failure and the high costs associated with life-saving treatments. βThis appointment is not just a personal achievement but a call to action. I hope to work with international partners to advance access, affordability, and education around kidney transplantation in Africa,β he said.
He further highlighted that the Abia Specialist Hospital is already exploring collaborations with international partners to upgrade transplant services, train more specialists, and invest in diagnostic capacity.
The Abia State Government has congratulated Dr. Okwuonu on this landmark achievement, calling it a testament to the state’s growing leadership in healthcare innovation.
