A professor of medicine at Bayero University, Kano, and kidney specialist at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Dr. Aliyu Abdu, revealed over the weekend that around 10,000 kidneys are sold on the black market worldwide every year.
In Nigeria alone, about 651 kidneys were illegally sold and transplanted between 2015 and 2020, worth over \$40 million.
He spoke during a seminar on national standards for organ and tissue transplants, organized by the Clarion Call Care Foundation in Abuja. Dr. Abdu said many people who donate organs are forced, tricked, or driven by poverty.
He explained that most victims are poor and easily tempted by money. Many don’t fully understand the health risks involved. Organ trafficking continues in Nigeria because of poverty, social inequality, lack of laws, and some unethical doctors who help make it happen.
Dr. Abdu added that after giving away an organ, many donors don’t get proper medical care or any payment, leaving them with long-term health problems, emotional trauma, and sometimes depression due to poor handling by the medical system.
Another problem, he said, is the lack of legal ways to get organs, like from brain-dead donors or through registered organ banks. This gap helps the illegal market continue to grow.
He warned again that many donors are abandoned after the surgery, with no help or support for their recovery.
Dr. Abdu described the illegal kidney trade as run by criminal networks. These include people who find and convince poor victims to sell their organs and even involve professionals like doctors, nurses, ambulance drivers, and travel agents who help carry out the procedures.
He said kidneys are the most illegally traded organs, with about 10,000 sold globally each year—roughly one every hour.
Dr. Abdu also shared the World Health Organization (WHO) definition of organ trafficking. It includes any act of recruiting or moving people—dead or alive—for the purpose of removing their organs by force, lies, or threats.
In Nigeria, the National Health Act of 2014 governs organ donation and transplant. The law bans the buying and selling of human organs, and says donors must give clear consent. While donors can be paid for expenses like travel or medical bills, any payment for the organ itself is illegal and can lead to jail time or fines. The law also prohibits organ donations from people under 18 or over 65.
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In light of the serious issues surrounding kidney trafficking as highlighted in the article, I’m curious about how specific medications play a role in recovery after a transplant. I recently came across some insights on Florinef and its importance in managing electrolyte balance post-transplant. Can anyone share their experiences or thoughts on how effective Florinef is in this context? You can find more details here: https://keepingitrenal.com/navigating-kidney-transplant-recovery-the-role-of-florinef