Nineteen days after undergoing a kidney transplant operation, 18-year-old Munesh Mangal on Wednesday told Minister of Health Dr Leslie Ramsammy that he feels much better and is recovering well.

According to a Government Information Agency (GINA) press release Ramsammy visited the youth and his mother and donor 41-year-old Leelkumarie Mangal at their relatives’ home at Coldingen. The woman said her son was making steady progress since the historic July 12 operation conducted at the Georgetown hospital. Munesh was resting in a hammock when Ramsammy visited and the minister urged him to take his medication on time.

The operation was done by a US-based team of surgeons. The operation lasted about seven hours. Senior Transplant Surgeon attached to the Walter Reed Army Medical Centre Dr Rahul Jindal committed to transferring the team’s skills to local surgeons. He also talked about the possibilities of patients going to the US for treatment, though he was quick to point out that this step would have to be made through a government bilateral arrangement.

Local surgeons are expected to conduct this type of surgery after the next five operations which are scheduled to be done here by the same team.

GINA said two of the five persons set to undergo the operation have met the requirements for the surgery. Patients suffering from end stage renal failure who can undergo surgery must not have other complications other than the said complaint, have a willing donor and preliminary tests must indicate that there is tissue-type compatibility between the donor and the recipient.