Tanzania to open 4th kidney transplant facility

Mwanza. Tanzania is set to enhance specialised healthcare services as Bugando Medical Centre (BMC), a referral hospital in the Lake Zone, prepares to introduce kidney transplant procedures later this year.

Speaking at the commemoration of World Kidney Day yesterday, the director of Surgical Services at BMC, Dr Alicia Masenga, confirmed the development.

Dr Masenga, who was speaking on behalf of Acting Director General, Dr Bahati Wajanga, said the high prevalence of kidney-related conditions in the Lake Zone was a key reason for introducing transplant services at Bugando.

She said that the remaining steps before launching the service include the return of specialised surgeons currently completing training abroad and the installation of essential surgical equipment.

“Preparations for launching kidney transplant services are progressing well,” she said.

Once operational, Bugando will become the fourth hospital in Tanzania to provide kidney transplant services, joining the Upanga and Mloganzila facilities of the Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH) in Dar es Salaam and Benjamin Mkapa Hospital (BMH) in Dodoma.

MNH became the first Tanzanian medical facility to perform kidney transplants in 2017 at its Upanga facility after developing local expertise to handle the complex procedure.

The service was later extended to its Mloganzila facility.

BMH later followed suit, and last week announced that it has successfully performed kidney transplants on 25 patients, saving the government billions of shillings in overseas referral costs over the past four years.

BMH Executive Director, Prof Habel Makubi, revealed last week that the achievements were made possible following a Sh36.95 billion investment in specialised medical services during President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s four years in office.

Speaking at the same event, the Head of the Dialysis Unit at Bugando, Dr Said Kanenda, revealed that the hospital treats an average of 140 patients per week for dialysis. He noted that kidney-related conditions in Tanzania are increasing at an alarming rate.

According to Ministry of Health, the number of patients requiring dialysis rose from 1,017 in 2019 to 3,231 by December 2023. Kidney patients requiring dialysis typically need the procedure at least three times a week to maintain their daily activities.

“On average, a dialysis session in Tanzania costs Sh200,000, meaning a patient spends approximately Sh600,000 weekly on treatment,” he said.

He cited high blood pressure, diabetes, and proteinuria (excess protein in urine) as the leading causes of kidney disease among patients at the hospital. He also noted that some women develop kidney failure due to excessive bleeding and eclampsia during childbirth.

“We receive between three and six women per month who require dialysis due to complications arising during childbirth. That is why we strongly advise pregnant women to seek medical care early and follow doctors’ recommendations, including taking iron supplements,” Dr Kanenda said.

Preventive measures

As part of the World Kidney Day commemorations, Bugando conducted a one-day screening exercise among 178 Mwanza residents.

Of those screened, 56 individuals (31 percent) were diagnosed with high blood pressure, while 8 (4.5 percent) had diabetes. Additionally, 17 patients were found to have bacterial infections in their urinary tract, while 20 exhibited proteinuria, indicating a heightened risk of developing kidney disease.

Dr Kanenda warned that high blood pressure, diabetes, and proteinuria are serious conditions, as they signal that the kidneys’ filtration system is not functioning properly, which can eventually lead to kidney failure.

Meanwhile, Mwanza Regional Medical Officer (RMO), Dr Jesca Leba, urged the public to prioritise regular medical check-ups to detect kidney disease early and reduce the high cost of treatment.

“We need to encourage routine health check-ups. Many women in our region are experiencing kidney-related challenges. We are engaging communities by advising women to ensure they have sufficient blood levels before pregnancy and take iron supplements when necessary,” she said.

She also encouraged Tanzanians to enrol in health insurance schemes before being diagnosed with kidney disease, to mitigate the financial burden of treatment.

Hopes

Clement John, a dialysis patient, expressed optimism about Bugando’s kidney transplant programme, saying it would save many lives and reduce dependence on dialysis.

“Introducing kidney transplants at Bugando is a great initiative. I already have a willing kidney donor, but the major challenge has been finding a facility for the procedure. Currently, transplants are only available in Dar es Salaam and Dodoma, and the cost of staying there is overwhelming,” he said.

Another patient, Elvina Vitalis, thanked the government and Bugando Hospital for bringing dialysis services closer to Mwanza residents. She expressed hope that once kidney transplants commence, she could be relieved of the burden of weekly dialysis sessions.

Medical experts have warned that certain lifestyle habits increase the risk of developing kidney disease. These include obesity, smoking, consumption of food contaminated with harmful pesticides, and leading a sedentary lifestyle.