The Sunday Mail
Forward Nyanyiwa
As Zimbabweans join the rest of the world in commemorating World Kidney Day on Thursday, Chitungwiza Central Hospital has announced that it will officially open the eagerly-awaited Sally Mugabe Kidney Transplantation Unit by the end of March.
Whilst national World Kidney Day activities will be at Bulawayo’s Mpilo Central Hospital, where officials from the Health and Child Care Ministry are expected to officiate, all renal centres across Zimbabwe will have their own commemorations.
The announcement by Dr Obadiah Moyo, CEO of Chitungwiza Central Hospital, that all is set for the official opening of the hospital’s kidney transplant unit by the end of this month, should be exciting news for the country’s kidney patients.
“I think the (kidney transplantation) unit will open once our partners – the Apollo Group of Hospitals — have inspected our facilities and are 100 percent satisfied. We will follow their guidance as they are the key players and we want a successful outcome,” he said.
Top officials from the Apollo Group of Hospitals (India) are expected to jet into the country on Thursday, the day the world commemorates and celebrates kidney patients, to assess the progress on renovations and equipment, after which a tentative date to commence kidney transplantation in Zimbabwe will be announced.
To be held under the theme “Kidney and Women’s Health: Include Value and Power”, the celebrations at Chitungwiza Central Hospital are set to raise awareness among Zimbabweans – especially women – according to Dr Samuel Mvurume, the chairman of Sally Mugabe Transplantation Committee.
“Preparations are mainly on stepping up awareness among Zimbabweans in general and women in particular, national and local health professionals who are focusing on prevention of chronic kidney disease and screening of high risk patients,” said Dr Mvurume.
Those on high risk of having chronic kidney disease include diabetic and hypertensive patients. In 2016, with the help of Government, Apollo Group of Hospitals and Mimosa Mining Company, Chitungwiza Central hospital started an audacious project to turn its doctor’s call rooms into a kidney transplantation unit. The project, saw a series of visits to the Asian country and South Africa by a team of Zimbabwean nurses and doctors to acquaint themselves with the operations of the respective units and personnel has been trained to do a kidney transplantation.
“Mimosa has been renovating theatres and the transplantation unit to meet world standards and they also assisted with funding for the training of three surgeons, one theatre nurse, one nephrologist, one anaesthetist and three renal nurses, all of who had their internship in India.
“This has been possible with the invaluable support we have been receiving from Government and Apollo Group of Hospitals in India. As we speak, the renovations which were started in 2016 have now been completed,” said Dr Mvurume.
