KARACHI, Nov 28: Baby Sohaib - the infant from Rawalakot, Azad Kashmir, who became the country's first recipient of a donated liver - celebrated the first anniversary of his transplant operation recently.

According to a press release issued by the Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation (SIUT), Sohaib is a happy and healthy child now. The past one year has been a happy one for him as he remained complication-free, barring two bouts of mild infection.

He has grown normally in the past one year. Sohaib's weight and height are normal as compared to the other 18-month children, said the handout. His parents - Saima and Asad - expressed their gratitude to the SIUT, not just for saving his life but also for taking care of all their needs. They said they could never have hoped to provide high-class healthcare to their baby had the SIUT refused to provide them the care free.

A liver transplant operation, said the press release, could cost anything between Rs700,000 and Rs1,200,000. This is the kind of money a majority of Pakistanis cannot afford to pay. These people also cannot go abroad for treatment.

More than a year ago, the baby was suffering from Biliary Atresia, a rare disorder which had completely damaged his liver. He was brought to the SIUT where the doctors took up the challenge.

About 12 months ago Sohaib was operated upon by the SIUT staff, who were assisted by a team of experts from the King's College, London. During the nine-hour-long operation a portion from the liver of Sohaib's uncle, Waseem, was transplanted into his body.

This gift from Waseem has transformed Sohaib's life. The successful story of the country's first liver transplant operation underlines the importance of legislation on the cadaver organ donation, which could benefit scores of people suffering from kidney, liver and heart complications, according to the release.

The press release added: "It is sad that no cadaver legislation exists in the country. The law on organ transplantation is under consideration in the ministry of health and the SIUT understands that the same is about to be promulgated and everyone is waiting for the day when this law becomes a reality so that it benefits patients of renal failure as well as that of end-stage heart, lung, small intestine, pancreas and corneal diseases.

"One deceased person could save the lives of 10 living persons who are in need of transplantation. In Pakistan this will mean benefiting about 50,000 patients every year."