According to the Kenya Renal Association, kidney diseases and ailments have become the most common non-communicable disease in the country after diabetes.
Government statistics show that about one million people in Kenya have kidney disease.
“This is a silent disease. So by the time the symptoms become pronounced, it’s often too late for most people,” said Professor Fred Segor, Principal Secretary of the Ministry of Health during Monday’s launch of the Kidney Transplant and Awareness Campaign Week.
Ms Lily Tare, the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) chief executive stated, “We are therefore calling on all Kenyans to come for free screening at this hospital or at Uhuru Park from today (Monday) until Thursday so that they can know their status, with regards to kidney disease.”
According to the Kenya Renal Association, kidney diseases and ailments have become the most common non-communicable disease in the country after diabetes.
“This poses a threat to national development as it often results in long term complications that are costly to treat,” said Prof Segor.
People with kidney failure usually undergo dialysis - a procedure which cleans the blood. But the long term solution often lies in patients having kidney transplants which are costly for most Kenyans.
Prof Segor noted that one in every five men and one in every four women between the ages of 65 and 74 have chronic kidney disease.
“In short, the older you get, the more likely you are to have some degree of kidney disease. But even young people should be concerned.”
He stated that chronic kidney disease increases the risk of heart attack, strokes and kidney failure.
Currently, KNH is the only public hospital offering kidney transplant services in Kenya. It has only 15 dialysis machines which cater for 300 patients per day.
“This is more than these machines can handle,” said Dr Antony Were, Head of KNH Renal Unit.
During this week, the hospital will also conduct free 10 kidney transplants in children and adults with support from the Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) and Novartis.
The partnership enabled the successful operation of the first paediatric kidney transplant in East Africa last year.
Prof Segor noted that such partnerships are important in provision of subsidised dialysis and transplants to patients with kidney ailments.
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