Ministry of Information and Media Permanent Secretary Thabo Kawana says the government has taken significant strides to addressing Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs) such as Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) in the country.
Mr Kawana says the burden of Non Communicable Diseases such as Chronic Kidney Disease have continued to strain the country’s health system.
He noted that the government is cognisant of the fact that addressing CDK requires a holistic approach for early diagnosis plus treatment.
ZANIS reports that Mr Kawana said this in a speech read for him by the Ministry of Information and Media Director for Human Resource, Bernard Domingo during the official opening of B.Braun Renal Centre at Sandy’s Creation in Lusaka.
Mr Kawana added that B.Braun Renal Centre is an example of how Public-Private-Partnerships (PPP) can transform health care services in the country.
He emphasised that this is why the government’s 8th National Development Plan (8NDP) puts the reduction of NCDs as well as strengthening the country’s health sector first at all levels regardless of background.
Mr Kawana added that the Government has taken concrete steps in addressing CKD such as expansion of dialysis services to ensure that every Zambian has access to life saving treatments regardless of where they are.
“Prevention and early intervention through partnerships with organisations like the Ministry of Health, we are promoting early diagnosis and public education to reduce the progression of CKD to end stage renal failure,” he said.
Speaking at the same event, B.Braun Dialysis Centre Managing Director Karishma Singh disclosed that the Dialysis Center, though a first in the country, is currently in about 186 countries worldwide.
Ms Singh added that CDK is a huge burden that requires state of the art equipment as the center for proper treatment.
In his vote of thanks, Levy Mwanawasa Hospital Senior Medical Superintendent and Nephrologist, Charles Mutemba said not so long ago such services were only accessed in government institutions.
He has since called for early diagnosis saying that patients must ensure that they seek medical services early to prevent last minute scenarios.
