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Robin Muchetu and Walter Mswazie, Sunday News Reporters
MR Allen Maphosa (not his real name) from Pumula South in Bulawayo was diagnosed of a kidney ailment just 10 months ago.
Unemployed with a pregnant wife and two children attending school, he could not imagine the cost of getting treatment.
Just when he thought he was going to die a painful death as he could no longer afford treatment, he says he has been given a new lease of life by the Government which is going to offer free dialysis at central hospitals in the country.
The call by the Ministry of Health and Child Care to offer free renal dialysis has brought in a ray of light for patients who could not afford the treatment.
The Minister of Health and Child Care, Dr David Parirenyatwa, said the treatment was only for those patients who are underprivileged. Those on medical aid or have the ability to fund their own treatment were not being considered.
The ministry has committed to fund three free sessions per week for each patient which is the maximum that one can get, other patients, however, need just one or two sessions.
Mr Maphosa narrated his ordeal to Sunday News.
“I have been struggling to buy the required medications and sundries for me to be dialysed for the past few months. I am now happy that I have a chance to live as the hospital announced that we can be treated for free. I am unemployed and have been surviving by doing odd jobs in the community but the money could only buy just food for us to eat,” he said.
He said he was fortunate that he was given two rooms to live in at his brother’s house so he has no rentals to worry about.
Mpilo Central Hospital made a clarion call last week for patients to register to access free renal dialysis as per the Government’s directive.
Renal dialysis is a procedure done to clean the body of waste when kidneys have failed or are failing to do it alone. The cost of dialysis in the country has been very high as hospitals were not able to adequately supply treatment to patients due to limited funds, forcing patients to pay for their treatment.
Mr Maphosa, like other patients with his condition, has been forking out close to $1 000 per month to enable full treatment every week.
He was also buying dialysers, three types of syringes, latex and sterile gloves, Betadine solution, bloodlines, bibags, menthylated spirit, Bactroban ointment and Heparine which is used to prevent blood clots.
“I spend about $900 per month to buy these things and they are currently available at one pharmacy in the city so we have no option but to buy them there,” he said.
Mpilo Central Hospital clinical director Mr Solwayo Ngwenya acknowledged that patients in the city have been facing challenges in procuring the consumables needed for dialysis.
“Patients have been struggling to buy the consumables that are needed each week for dialysis; they have been paying as much as $150 to buy them for each session depending on what was needed. The Government then stepped in to assist these people by offering free services,” he said.
Mr Ngwenya said: “It was sad that people were dying while trying to save money to get treatment which was very regrettable but now there is renewed hope as the Government has stepped in to buy these consumables for the patients.”
On average, he said Mpilo was seeing about 70 renal patients but the number has increased as people have started registering for free treatment.
In order to meet the demand for the treatment, the institution has started repairing some of its machines.
“We had nine machines that were being used but we have added eight more. We can safely say we have over 16 machines that will be used and we are still repairing some,” he added.
Mr Ngwenya said the Government has already availed the funding to purchase the consumables.
Meanwhile, Masvingo residents have also welcomed the scrapping of renal treatment fees at Government hospitals saying it will go a long way in easing the burden on kidney patients.
Community Working Group on Health provincial chairperson Mrs Entrance Takaidza said the move by the Government was positive in the quest to improve the health delivery system in the country.
“We applaud Government for scrapping fees on dialysis sessions for renal patients,” said Mrs Takaidza.
“This will go a long way in addressing health gaps especially in Masvingo. As an organisation, we have received grievances from a number of kidney patients over their inability to meet health expenses. Now that the Government has listened to the voice of reason, we are glad,” she said.
Consumer Council of Zimbabwe provincial chairman Mr Joweri Mukusha called on the authorities at Masvingo General Hospital to complete the installation of the $200 000 renal unit so that the institution can start implementing the directive.
Masvingo provincial medical director Dr Amadeaus Shamu said the renal unit was yet to work due to absence of screening facilities. “We also need a well-planned and properly equipped sluice room and that is important for maintaining hygiene and to prevent cross infections,” he said.
He said a sluice room is where used disposables such as incontinence pad and bed pans are deposited and reusable products are cleaned and disinfected.
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