Kidney acquisition from blood relatives sounds much better

MWANZA: PROTEIN urination, commonly known as proteinuria, is one of the symptoms of kidney complications.

In simple terms, proteinuria occurs when a person’s urine exhibits abnormalities, such as unusual colours like pink, red, blue, or dark yellow.

Sometimes, urine may appear cloudy, heavier than normal, or foamy and it can even be bloody.

Normal urine colour is typically light yellow or clear.

However, dark yellow urine does not necessarily indicate kidney issues; it can simply be a result of dehydration, as health experts at Bugando Zonal Referral Hospital recently explained to the ‘Daily News.’

According to the experts, if proteinuria persists, it can lead to more severe problems, including body swelling and either kidney enlargement or shrinkage, often accompanied by a complete loss of urination.

This was the case for Mr Daniel Manoti, a resident of Igoma Ward in the Ilemela District of Mwanza Region, who has been unable to urinate properly for about two years.

Mr Manoti experienced proteinuria in 2015 but initially remained silent, assuming the condition would improve on its own since he did not feel any pain.

However, in 2016, he developed swelling in his face and legs, prompting him to seek help from experts at Bugando, where he was diagnosed with kidney complications.

Unfortunately, due to a lack of pathologists at Bugando, it was difficult to assess the severity of his condition, and he was referred to Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH) in Dar es Salaam.

At MNH, doctors determined that Mr Manoti’s condition was at an early stage and prescribed oral medications to help restore his health.

“But I couldn’t afford it. The drugs cost about 700,000/- per month and I was unemployed at the time,” he said.

After securing a job as a public primary school teacher in Mwanza, he finally gained access to health coverage.

He returned to Bugando in 2019, where medical tests revealed complete kidney failure.

Since then, he has been undergoing dialysis, which helps him produce and excrete urine.

The failure to urinate was due to damage to all the urine-filtering units in his kidneys, known as nephrons, caused by the years of neglect.

“The experts say the only permanent solution to my problem is a kidney transplant.

Luckily, my young relatives are willing to donate a kidney,” he shared during a dialysis session at Bugando.

Mr Manoti commended the government and stakeholders for their efforts in improving kidney services at Bugando, particularly the availability of dialysis.

He recalled the difficulties he faced during his referral to MNH.

Despite these improvements, he urged for expedited implementation of Universal Health Coverage to assist people with kidney complications, as treatment costs remain high.

He undergoes dialysis three times a week, spending 300,000/- per session, which is prohibitively expensive for many Tanzanians without health insurance.

“It totals 900,000/- weekly, not including the medical tests required before each session and the medications I need afterward,” he noted.

Dr Said Kanenda, a kidney specialist at Bugando, explained that Mr Manoti’s situation could have been less severe if he had consulted medical experts earlier when he first noticed proteinuria.

He affirmed that Mr Manoti is among the patients who will benefit from the kidney transplant services expected to commence at Bugando this year.

Dr Kanenda echoed Mr. Manoti’s praise for the government and stakeholders improving kidney services, noting that Bugando is equipped with at least 27 dialysis machines.

He stressed that only a kidney transplant can restore normalcy for those with severe kidney complications, and it is preferable for the donor to be a biological relative, as is the case for Mr Manoti.

“This compatibility makes the process smoother due to shared DNA, unlike transplants from non-relatives,” he explained.

He encouraged the public to undergo regular kidney screenings to facilitate early treatment at affordable costs.

Timely medical intervention significantly enhances recovery prospects, particularly for kidney patients whose issues arise from conditions like severe diarrhea, vomiting, malaria, high blood pressure, heart failure, or significant blood loss.

However, recovery is less certain for those with acute kidney complications triggered by diabetes, hepatitis, kidney stones, or HIV.

“This is why we constantly urge regular health check-ups; many people are unaware of the underlying issues causing their long-term ailments,” he said.

Moreover, Dr Kanenda recommended maintaining a balanced diet and engaging in regular physical activity to prevent kidney complications.

ALSO READ: Experts push for lifestyle change to fight kidney disease

Kidney disease is one of the non-communicable diseases (NCDs), with the World Health Organisation (WHO) reporting on September 16, 2023, that NCDs claim 41 million lives each year, accounting for 74 per cent of all global deaths.

Each year, 17 million people die from an NCD before the age of 70, with 86 per cent of these premature deaths occurring in low and middle-income countries.

Of all NCD related deaths, 77 per cent are in these regions, the organisation emphasised.