A smile for Kidney Transplant Kids this festive season from KNH and EAGM

By Paul Ngurari 

It will be a compassionate holiday season for some lucky kids with kidney disease this Christmas following a rare gift initiative dubbed ‘Illuminating Hearts’ by the east African Glassware Mart (EAGM) in partnership with the Kenyatta National Hospital. 

In conjunction with Arch International, manufacturers of one of the leading tableware brands, Luminarch, EAGM will donate Ksh85 from the purchase of selected Luminarch tumbler sets to KNH in support of kidney transplant for kids. In addition, EAGM will donate Ksh500,000 to finance one kidney transplant this season. The corporate social responsibility campaign runs from November 1, 2013 to January 6, 2014 through Nakumatt outlets. Each set costs Ksh635.

“Kidney disease in children is increasing. The disease has been associated with genetic as well as lifestyle factors. Kidney transplant is the preferred mode of treating chronic kidney disease. Regrettably, this life saving treatment remains out of reach of many Kenyans due to the high costs involved," said Dr Munene Irimu, KHN’s head of special programmes.

Dr Irimu noted that 78 per cent of the hospital’s patients come from low socio economic backgrounds and are not able to pay for their medical bills. This, he said, necessitates the need for government and other donors like EAGM to supplement the costs.  

Kenyatta National Hospital provides subsidised kidney transplants for Ksh500,000.  According to Dr Anthony Were, head of Renal Unit at KNH, Ksh300,000 is the cost of the operation while Ksh200,000 is the cost of medical investigations necessary for such an operation. This is the cheapest rate in the country. Private hospitals charge over Ksh1.4 million for the same service. It costs Ksh1.6 million in India.  

Kidney disease has been on the increase in the country of late. Dr Were says that KNH has been receiving five new cases every week. Unlike years gone by when the hospital only handled one kidney transplant per year, today it does one transplant per week.

“Dialysis and kidney transplant is a must for people with chronic kidney disease. They have no other way of survival as mortality for the disease is definite,” added Dr Irimu. 

People with acute kidney failure may recover after dialysis. It is recommended that most hospitals especially those dealing with accidents and maternity services have dialysis machines to prevent deaths resulting from acute kidney failure that may occur as a result of excessive bleeding. Dr Were says that other diseases may also lead to acute kidney failure.

“Mortality rate for acute kidney failure is 50 per cent in the general wards. It is much higher, 70 per cent, in the Intensive care wards,” adds Dr Were. 

Dialysis at KNH costs Ksh5,000 per session and is done three times a week. It costs ksh9,000 shillings in private hospitals. Each session runs for four hours nonstop. 

EAGM Head of consumer, Mr Zulfikar Mohamed noted that children with kidney disease are particularly disadvantaged because it is not advisable to place them on dialysis. 

“Kidney transplant operations are usually the best option for these children,” noted Mr Mohamed adding that huge medical costs hinder the sustainable management and treatment of kidney disease.

The Illuminating Hearts campaign, noted Mr Mohamed, is geared towards promoting the lives of children with kidney disease.