Kidney failure: Botswana's next health threat

Kidney failure rates are on the rise as more Batswana get obese and fail to keep diabetes in check.

“The numbers are rising really dramatically, and I think more and more people are starting to know somebody who’s affected by it,” says Tshegofatso Ramakgathi, a nurse at Bokamoso Private Hospital. “It’s definitely a growing public health concern,” she added.

Although the exact numbers of people suffering from kidney diseases is currently unknown because the condition is not easily understood and diagnosed, Ramakgathi revealed that to date, there are 301 patients on haemodialysis treatment and 145 on Peritoneal Dialysis (PD) treatment.

Some of the major reasons for this, Ramakgathi said, is because people are getting more obese and more are suffering from diabetes, the main cause of kidney failure when not kept in check. Improper uses of certain medication and drugs are also some of the contributing causes of kidney disease.

She was speaking on Friday at Princess Marina Hospital where BOMaid’s Marketing Manager Beulah Mapitse announced a partnership with Be Active Sports Management to raise funds for The Botswana Kidney Society (BOKISO). The not-for-profit organization was founded in 2015 to support and assist people living with kidney illnesses, by mobilizing and engaging other stakeholders to assist patients.

“We recognize that kidney disease is a rising prevalence in Botswana, a silent killer that has a profound effect on the quality of life of patients; that is why we are committed to assisting BOKISO in every way we can to execute its mandate,” Mapitse said.

With the Up Kgale Hill Charity Climb slated for next weekend, Mapitse said it was just the start of the many continued ways BOMaid will work with BOKISO. The event will feature different activities including hill climbing, aerobics, blood tests and weight loss counselling.

There are many forms of kidney diseases like urinary tract infection, cyst around kidneys, kidney stones, acute kidney injury and chronic kidney disease (CKD), which is particularly dangerous because a patient of CKD may not have any symptoms until considerable, often irreparable, damage to a kidney has occurred.

With the damage to kidneys, waste products and excess fluid start building up in the body causing swelling in ankles, vomiting, weakness, poor sleep and shortness of breath.