THE specialty kidney doctors from Yashoda Hospital of Hyderabad India in collaboration with the Baraka Dialysis Polyclinic Center in Dar es Salaam expect to provide modern diagnostic services and expert treatment for chronic kidney diseases.

The camp, which will be run in collaboration with Tanzanian doctors who specialize in the screening of kidney diseases and all kidney problems will be held for three days in early May.

The representative of Yashoda Hospital in the country, Naima Mnola, said the doctors who will conduct the camp are also experts in kidney transplant therapy.

She said the camp will be held for three days between May 3rd and5th in Dar es Salaam adding that they also collaborate with TANLINK Medical Tourism.

She said the beneficiaries of the camp are all people who want to know their kidney status, especially those aged 60 years and above.

She said all people and even patients, who are continuing with dialysis services, are welcome to undergo further examination at the camp.

 She said that people who have been tested and found that they need a kidney transplant will be an opportunity them to get expert advice and treatment from those doctors.

She said the doctors will also examine people with chronic diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and urinary tract infections (UTIs).

"This is a unique opportunity for Tanzanians with kidney problems and those who would like to be examined should use this opportunity to come to Baraka Plaza to register to see these specialists in May,” she said.

The number of people with kidney problems receiving dialysis services in 47 centres that provide this service across the country has increased from 1,017 in 2019 to 3,231 in December 2023.

The statistics were disclosed recently by the Minister of Health Ummy Mwalimu during the celebration of World Kidney Day which was held nationally in Musoma Municipality in March this year.

Mwalimu advised people to protect their kidneys by setting up regular testing procedures and focusing on healthy eating and healthy lifestyles.

"This is an increase of 68.5 percent while various studies show that 7-14 percent of Tanzanians, which is equal to 10 out of 100 people in the country, have kidney problems and some of them need dialysis services," she said.

According to Mwalimu, 2,585 patients, about 80 percent of all patients suffering from kidney disease in the country are receiving dialysis services using the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) causing the fund to be burdened with high costs.

She said the treatment costs for a patient with kidney problems are between 31m/ to 46.8m/ for one year, not including the costs of tests and transportation for the patient and the patient's companions.