Africa-Press – Zimbabwe. THE National Aids Council (Nac) is supporting the Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals’ blood and renal unit to ensure safe transfusion of blood and access to renal services by people living with HIV.
Nac chief executive Bernard Madzima said the assistance would go a long way in ensuring a good health-related quality of life for people living with HIV and other patients seeking renal treatment.
“As we know, most patients on ART [anti-retroviral treatment] may end up with kidney failure and require dialysis and this is an opportunity to offer services to people living with HIV and at the same time to those who are HIV negative,” Madzima said.
“Dialysis services are critical and this is a timely intervention, which improves the quality of life for those who need the services.
“That is why we have come to assist the Ministry of Health and Child Care and Parirenyatwa Hospital.”
Statistics show that Zimbabwe records approximately 1 000 cases of kidney failure per year.
However, only about 700 patients have access to dialysis treatment, leaving many without the care they desperately need.
Parirenyatwa has of late undergone major transformation, including the construction of a 21-bed renal unit and a paediatric operating theatre.
The refurbishments are set to significantly boost the health institution’s capacity to render renal services to patients who at times had to wait longer to access services.
The renal unit is equipped with modern dialysis machines and its expansion will increase the hospital’s capacity to accommodate more patients, allowing it to treat 63 patients daily across three sessions. This is not the first time that Nac has supported the Health ministry.
Nac once bought 16 cancer screening machines, which were given to the Health ministry for onward transmission to rural health centres across the country.
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