A family in partnership with Consolata Shrines Catholic parish in Nairobi has donated a dialysis machine to Murang’a level-5 hospital.
The family of George Kihara with the help of other donors has fulfilled dream of their daughter Christine Wambui who died of kidney failure in May 2018.
The late Wambui, who suffered from kidney failure for many years, wished to become a nephrologist and help in treatment of many patients who cannot access dialysis services.
The family took the initiative to mobilize resources after her death and bought a dialysis machine in an effort to realize the dreams of their daughter.
The machine which was received by Murang’a Governor Mwangi wa Iria on Wednesday will go a long way in serving patients suffering from kidney failure from the county.
The machine will increase the number of dialysis equipment in the county renal unit to 10 with expectation to ease congestion in the facility.
Renal unit in the hospital was established in 2015, and so far more than 16,200 dialysis sessions have been conducted.
The governor while lauding the family and the church said the unit has reduced burden to hundreds of patients who were earlier forced to go for dialysis services at Kenyatta National hospital among other Nairobi based hospital.
Wa Iria directed the renal unit to be renamed to Christine Wambui Renal Unit in honour of her effort in the health sector.
The county government, he said, will double the number of dialysis machines in the unit to 20 so as to serve many patients noting that there are some patients who are on the waiting list to for the services.
“Currently more than 40 patients in need of dialysis services are on the waiting list and we are optimistic that this machine will increase the number of sessions so that all affected people can get the treatment.
“My administration will expand the unit by increasing number of machines and training more staff with aim to make the unit a 24 hour operational,” he noted.
Currently the renal unit does about 15 sessions on a daily basis with government admitting shortage of specialized staff to man the facility.
The county government procured four machines in 2015 and five others were donated by the national government thus the establishment of the renal unit in the referral county hospital.
By Bernard Munyao
