Africa-Press – Botswana. Government cannot win the battle against chronic kidney disease without the commitment of every one, says the Assistant Minister of Health Mr Sethomo Lelatisitswe.
Speaking at the Commemoration of the Kidney Day in Gaborone on Thursday, Mr Lelatisitswe said it was the responsibility of the nation to not only to follow doctors’ instructions but to also develop or maintain healthy lifestyle habits.
He urged all to support those suffering from the disease to give them hope.
He said forming community support groups or being part of them was another way of showing support.
Mr Lelatisitswe said theme for this year: Kidney Health for all: Preparing for the Unexpected, Supporting the Vulnerable, called for people to be aware of their kidney health and to always seek appropriate information about their kidney health.
“This is because, when detected early, chronic kidney diseases can be treated thereby reducing complications and the growing burden of deaths and disabilities from chronic renal and cardiovascular disease. Globally, 8 – 10 per cent of the adult population have some form of kidney damage. As a result, every year millions of people die prematurely of complications related to Chronic Kidney Diseases,” he said
The assistant minister said Botswana was not exempted from this unfortunate reality, as in 2019, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported that kidney diseases had risen from the world’s 13th leading cause of mortality to the current 10th position.
He said this translated to numbers of mortality having increased from 813 000 in 2000 to 1.3 million in 2019 stating that such was a worrying trend given the fact that Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs) like hypertension and diabetes were the leading causes of Chronic Kidney Disease and NCDs were a serious concern for the country.
Mr Lelatisitswe said the epidemic of NCDs and its associated complications such as kidney disease, posed a threat to health care systems while driving many individuals, families and communities into poverty, due to associated prohibitive cost of their chronic need for health care.
In recent years, COVID-19 pandemic provided a clear example of the challenges faced by health care systems in providing essential health services to patients with NCDs.
He said the impact of COVID-19 on the health system had placed an added strain on this vulnerable population, who had to deal with the risk of becoming infected while visiting health facilities.
“I am informed that, at Princess Marina Hospital, our largest tertiary centre, over 1 500 renal clients are seen every year, and this number is most likely going to increase with the rising burden of NCDs. Of these, more than 300 patients with chronic kidney disease require some form of dialysis. These numbers may not be reflective of the true picture in the country given our collaborative care plan with the private sector whose numbers are not included here, “he said.
He said statistics, were a wake-up call for everyone to know that Chronic Kidney Disease was preventable and controllable. “For those of who already have the disease, please abide by your doctors’ instructions, take treatment as prescribed, and incessantly follow your approved diet,” he said.
The minister said in keeping with the world standard of care in the management of Chronic Kidney Disease, and align to the global commitment to prevent the growing burden of disease, the ministry had several interventions geared towards ensuring sustained response.
He said in 2019 they launched the Botswana Multi-Sectoral Strategy for the prevention and control of Non-Communicable Diseases, which provided the roadmap for the ministry and other stakeholders on the effective interventions that were promotive, curative, and rehabilitative.
It also emphasised the importance of behavioral change and community participation for disease prevention.
Mr Lelatisitswe said in order to improve care and survival, the ministry had opened a Nephrology Centre of Excellence managed by a multidisciplinary team, comprising nephrology specialist doctors, nephrology nurses, dieticians, and pharmacists.
The centre also provided high-level care to people with chronic kidney disease and worked to prevent complications, which may lead to death, he said.
He said in dealing with NCDs such as Diabetes, Block 6 Diabetes Centre of Excellence had been established to help with early detection and provide up to date management of Diabetes and its complications.
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