11/3/2022
World Kidney Day: Frequent screening can save your kidneys By Linnette Leyi This year’s World Kidney Day celebration’s theme was “Kidney Health for All – Bridge the gap to better kidney care,” summarizing the need to educate patients, policy makers, healthcare providers and the community at large on kidney health, renal services and kidney disease treatment. The celebrations were held at KNH Administration grounds on 10th March 2022. The chief guest Dr. Mercy Mwangangi-CAS Health reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to improving Universal Health Coverage to Kenyans by providing sustainable access to effective and affordable prevention, early detection and access to medicines to treat risk factors for kidney disease and delay kidney disease progression. She said: “It is estimated that in Kenya, 5 Million people are battling chronic kidney disease. Over the last 10 years, the number of people on regular haemodialysis has increased from 300 to more than 5000 presently. This is largely attributable to the important role that NHIF is playing in reimbursing the costs of dialysis.” “Kenyatta National Hospital continues to offer a wide variety of care to patients seeking treatment of Chronic Kidney Disease including Haemodialysis, Peritoneal dialysis and holistic kidney transplantation care, Pre-transplant, Intra and Posttransplant.” “Many types of kidney diseases can be prevented, delayed, or kept under control when appropriate prevention measures are in place. As a society therefore, we have a duty & a responsibility to encourage healthy lifestyles (access to clean water, exercise, healthy diet, tobacco control), screening for kidney diseases as a primary healthcare intervention including access to identification tools (e.g. urine and blood tests) and screening of high-risk individuals,” added Dr. Mwangangi. Speaking during the event, Dr. Ahmed Twahir, former president of Kenya Renal Association (KRA) highlighted that cases of Chronic
PHOTO | EUGENE AMELI Dr. Mercy Mwangangi, Mr. George Ooko, Ms Raheli Mukhwana, Dr. John Ngigi, and other important guests join in cutting cake to celebrate World Kidney Day
PHOTO | EUGENE AMELI Dr. Mercy Mwangangi addressing the audience during the event
Kidney Disease are increasing globally. One out of ten adults worldwide has CKD, and if left untreated, it can be deadly. It is a silent disease that is easily undetectable. Frequent kidney screening helps one to take measures to prevent and reduce the disease’s progression. Dr. John Ngigi, Ag. Director KPCC and Kidney specialist insisted on the need to expand the pool of kidney donors in the country. It is also vital for the government to continue supporting its citizens in renal care through the UHC program. “Currently, only living related donors can be organ donors. This limits the options available to kidney failure patients. Whereas the Health Act of 2017 allows the practice of deceased organ transplantation, the regulations to govern this are yet to be gazetted thus delaying the initiation of this service which is widely practiced
ISSUE 4 | Kenyatta National Hospital Newsline
greatly expanded transplantation activities in most countries where it is practice,” he said. He encouraged the MoH to accelerate the process of crafting and gazetting these important regulations to allow for the commencement of this service. John Gikonyo, a kidney patient and the president of Renal Patients Society of Kenya expressed his gratitude to doctors, nurses, caregivers and NHIF for offering kidney patients support in treatment of the disease. He, however, asked for reforms in NHIF coverage to cater for the costly post-transplant medication. The event was attended by KNH Board chairman, Mr. George Ooko, KNH CEO Dr. Evanson Kamuri, EBS, Directors and Senior Directors, partners and stakeholders, nurses, doctors and kidney patients. Free screening was available during the event for diabetes and hypertension which are the risk factors for kidney disease..
PHOTO | STEVE MUTUKU Members of the public getting screened for high blood pressure during the celebration of World Kidney Day 2022
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