The ManicaPost
Tendai Gukutikwa
Post Reporter
MS Alice Bhero (38)’s toddler grandchild twists and turns with excitement while looking at her grandmother.
She is happy, smiling and revealing her fresh pair of teeth while signalling for granny to pick her up.
All Ms Bhero could manage is to smile at the innocent child in agony.
Moving her lips for a smile is painful. She was diagnosed with kidney failure early last year and had kidney surgery in September of the same year.
While the surgery was successful, Ms Bhero of Munyarari Village under Chief Zimunya still has to do dialysis treatments twice a week.
People with failed or damaged kidneys may have difficulty to eliminate waste and unwanted water from the blood, so dialysis is an artificial way of carrying out this process.
The treatment substitutes the natural functions of the kidneys, so it is also known as Renal Replacement Therapy (RRT).
In Manicaland, free dialysis treatment can be accessed at public hospitals like Victoria Chitepo Provincial Hospital, but lately patients have been left stranded as there is no medicine for dialysis treatment at the referral hospital.
Patients like Ms Bhero now need to fork out as much as a US$100 for one dialysis session at private clinics around the province.
A patient should have two or three sessions a week.
Ms Bhero has missed her treatments for three weeks because she cannot afford the charges at private clinics.
Her health continues deteriorating with each passing day.
If patients miss their dialysis treatment, they may feel the effects of fluid overload which include shortness of breath due to fluid in the lungs and these symptoms are already evident on Bhero’s body.
She now has a swollen body and regularly experiences shortness of breath bouts.
She fears that if nothing is done to help her, she might die prematurely.
“The cheapest private clinic in Mutare charges US$70 per treatment which means I need US$140 per week. This translates to US$560 a month for me to get the required treatment.
“I am not employed, but I need to be healthy enough to work,” she said slowly, agony and despair clearly visible on her face.
Many people who have dialysis can work, lead normal lives, and travel, as long as dialysis treatment is possible at the destination, but this is not the case for Ms Bhero and many others who cannot access dialysis at public hospitals.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) report on kidney disease states that Zimbabwe records at least 1 000 cases of kidney failure every year and that only 700 access dialysis since a number of people cannot afford the lifesaving services.
This translates to 30 percent of kidney patients having no access to dialysis and this percentage increases when referral hospitals like Victoria Chitepo Provincial Hospital does not have medicine for treatment.
Ms Bhero forces a painful smile before saying softly: “I used to be a hard worker. I am the one who was looking after my aged mother before I was diagnosed with kidney failure.
“The surgery brought with it more troubles. The money for dialysis treatment is too much for someone like me that sometimes I wish I had died during surgery.”
The woman does not have any siblings to help her financially.
Taking care of Ms Bhero is her namesake, her 87-year-old mother Ms Alice Bhero (Snr).
Despite being visually impaired and of advanced age, the woman does not use her disability as an excuse to take care of her ailing daughter.
“Alice is supposed to be on a specialised diet of fresh vegetables and white meat, but we do not have the resources to supply her with that. I think this is contributing to her deteriorating health.
“How can I afford to buy her pork, carrots and these other fancy vegetables when I am failing to raise money for her treatment?
“I had seven children and six of them died leaving me with just Alice to take care of. Her health continues deteriorating. Her stomach is swollen and she can hardly get up or talk,” said the elderly woman.
In 2017, the then WHO representative to Zimbabwe, Dr David Okello explained the pivotal role played by kidneys in the human body, saying kidneys are vital for life as they support the elimination of toxins and excess water from our bodies as well as controlling blood pressure, facilitating the production of red blood cells and keeping our bones healthy.
He, however, bemoaned the high prices of dialysis in the country.
“The only treatment for kidney ailment is dialysis and it is expensive in Zimbabwe if one is seeking it elsewhere not from public hospitals.
“Most hospitals charge between US$80 and US$240 per session. A patient requires two to three sessions a week,” he said.
This was shortly before Government introduced free dialysis in public hospitals.
Speaking while commemorating World Kidney Day recently, nephrologists (kidney specialist), Dr Rumbidzai Dahwa commended Government for offering free dialysis in all public health institutions across the country.
She said the move is in line with the universal health coverage goal.
“Since 2018, Government has been offering free dialysis in all public health institutions and this move has made the services available to those who need the life saving intervention,” she said.
Local nephrologists, Dr Stern Chisiyiwa said healthy kidneys regulate the body’s levels of water and minerals while removing waste.
“Dialysis helps patients whose kidneys have failed even though it is not as efficient as a normal kidney. Patients who receive dialysis need to be careful about what and how much they drink and eat, and they need to take their medication regularly,” he said.
Dr Chisiyiwa said failure to access medication can result in the patient getting very sick, vomiting, constant confusion and swelling of the body.
In some cases the end result is death.
He said missing dialysis is not good for one’s health and the likes of Ms Bhero should immediately go for treatment.
“In other countries, dialysis is done up to five times a week, but in Zimbabwe we have between two or three sessions a week, which is still okay depending on one’s state.
“These dialysis sessions are supplements for the kidneys and one cannot live without a kidney, therefore, missing dialysis is not good for one’s health.
“This means blood will no longer be filtered inside the body, while excess fluids will be retained. A whole lot other health scares follow after that. In this case, the patient’s life is threatened,” he said.
Haemodialysis is usually done three times a week, for three to four hours a day, depending on how well the kidneys work, and how much fluid weight they have gained between treatments.
According to the WHO report, worldwide, five million people are expected to be on dialysis by 2030 and Zimbabwe has been making strides to see that everyone has access to free dialysis.
Those who want to assist Ms Bhero can contact her mother on 0776469750 or 0787571222.
