NEW DELHI-
Two-year-old Nalain Aziz’s parents have a reason to smile.
After his mother donated part of her liver, Aziz became the youngest patient from Pakistan to receive a liver transplant in India.
Aziz, from Lahore, developed jaundice soon after his birth on April 26, 2012. He was diagnosed with Biliary atresia — a rare condition that affects one in 10,000 babies.
With no progress in his condition, despite being hospitalised in Pakistan multiple times, his parents decided to seek the help of authorities to get him treated in India.
Help came in the form of the Indraprastha Apollo Hospital in New Delhi which took up the challenge to operate on 500 patients, including Aziz.
The attempt marked a milestone for the hospital — making it the first to operate on patients from a single foreign country.
“It is a proud moment for us … Our patients travelled long distances for a liver transplant … It will be our endeavour to further help people from across the border …,” Prof. Subash Gupta, Chief Liver Transplant Surgeon, Apollo Hospitals, Delhi said.
Pakistani patients constitute 29 per cent of liver transplant surgeries performed at the hospital.
“ … Our experience with so many Pakistani patients and their families has taught us so much about Pakistani culture and the similarities between our societies,” Prof Anupam Sibal, Group Medical Director and Senior Paediatric Gastroenterologist, Apollo Hospitals Delhi said.