Murang’a residents have been urged to go for annual tests for early diagnosis of renal disease as the county marked world Kidney Day.
Speaking during an event to educate people on kidney disease awareness on Thursday at Murang’a level 5 Hospital in Murang’a town, Dr Leonard Gikera, a radiologist at the renal unit said regular checkup and screening is used to detect early signs of kidney related diseases.
Gikera said that the hospital has partnered with Hashi medical center to provide medical services like screening to mark the celebrations.
He said the Dialysis unit became operational in 2015 when the machines were brought to the hospital. “The hospital has a total of twenty renal dialysis machines that are fully functional,”
he said adding that they are used to clean up blood of patients diagnosed with kidney problems.
He said that the machines are able to serve up to twenty people per day and that they divide the patients into two groups; ten patients in the morning and the other ten in the evening.
Dr Gikeru divulged that the hospital has been able to serve local residents and also those from neighboring counties who used to seek the services in private hospitals.
“Previously, most patients would travel to far places including Nairobi to seek treatment which would strain them financially,” he said adding that they are happy that the treatment has been brought near home thus relieving them of the burden of travelling long distances.
Kinuthia Ndung’u, the renal unit team leader, said that the signs and symptoms of kidney failure are classified into two parts. The early signs and the late signs.
The early signs, he said, are the ones, which are first noticed like the change in urinating patterns and urine coming out and as well as urine having an awful smell.
He further explained that late signs are the ones, which are discovered at an advanced stage of kidney failure, including swollen body parts like the legs.
He also underscored the need for Kenyans to ensure they take at least two litres of water throughout the day and eat a balanced diet while ensuring they remain physically active.
World Kidney Day is celebrated every second Thursday in March with an aim of increasing awareness of the importance of kidneys to health and reducing the impact of kidney disease and its associated problems worldwide.
This year, the day was celebrated under the theme, ‘Preparing for the unexpected, supporting the vulnerable.’
By Anita Omwenga and Ian Muchiri
