By Foday Moriba Conteh
As part of their continuous stride to raise awareness on the essential work of kidneys in the human system, Shifaa and Dialysis Center, has on Thursday 11th March 2021, joined the world to celebrate World Kidney Day, which is observed on the second Thursday of March every year, with the theme: “Living Well with Kidney Disease”. The event took place at its Center on Campbell Street in Freetown.
Prior to the observation, Shifaa and Dialysis Center on Monday 8th March 2021 commenced a three day street sensitization on kidney health which started at Up-Gun Roundabout on the first day, then continued at Lumley on the second day and ended on Wednesday the 10th March 2021 at St. John in the West End of Freetown.
Giving his opening courtesies, Media & Marketing Coordinator of Shifaa and Dialysis Center, Amadu Wurie Barrie, highlighted that statistics show that diabetes and high blood pressure are symptoms of 75% of kidney failure cases between 2015-2017, adding that 47% of new End Stage Kidney Disease (ESKD) patients had a primary diagnosis of diabetes, the leading cause of ESKD, while 29% of new ESKD patients had a primary diagnosis of hypertension, the second leading cause of ESKD.
On her part, Manager and Director of Administration, Shifaa and Dialysis Center, Dalanda Bah said the celebration of the World Kidney Day is geared towards recognizing the challenges of Kidney disease stating that they are standing side by side with Sierra Leoneans who have been diagnosed with such a predicament, adding that the day is for all those whose lives have been affected by kidney disease.
Dalanda Bah noted that the very reason why they are gathered at their facility is because the first man in her life, her father, now late Alhaji Umaru Sillah Bah, was the very first patient of the Shifaa and Dialysis Center and as a matter of fact he was the only patient for almost a year before they were granted a permit to open up to the public.
The Director said they constructed the Center which became the Shifaa and Dialysis Center within 3 months and within 3 and half years later the number of Patients Dialyzed/Dialyzing at the Center were 181, Female 79 (43.6%) and Male 102 (56.4%), the number of patients from abroad was: 21, and 12 Sierra Leoneans.
She pointed out that at this point they are very proud of themselves considering the extreme challenges that they have been through noting that many of those challenges were unexpected.
Dalanda furthered that as the theme for this year’s World Kidney Day 2021 implies Living Well with Kidney Disease it is in line with their Center as Shifaa is the Arabic word for wellness and their motto is “Promoting Wellness and Enhancing the Quality of Life”.
She used the opportunity to recognize members of staff of the Center, referring to them as the spine of Shifaa saying these men and women have dedicated their lives to signing in at 6:00 am and signing out after the last patient leaves, responding to their calls in the middle of the night to come dialyze emergency cases.
“Our members of staff include a Nephrologist, a physician consultant, 6 nurses, including 1 in training, 3 technicians including 1 in training, and a well-trained Janitor. We hope to continue this great work by collaborating with all hospitals and clinics in Sierra Leone for the benefit of our kidney patients,” she maintained.
Giving his keynote address, Dr. Komrabai Kanu expressed appreciation to Shifaa and Dialysis Center for the tremendous work they have been doing in saving lives and for embarking on the three day street sensitization on kidney health.
He disclosed that previously the centre was having one machine but later increased it to two machines to enhance fast and adequate service saying that it came to a point when the country was so much in need of dialysis services and in 2018 the Shifaa and Dialysis Center opened its services to the public and is functioning up to date.
He extended gratitude to the genuine people for their effort towards the growth of the Centre regardless of challenges.
A beneficiary of Shifaa and Dialysis Center, David Kandeh, revealed that he used to go for treatment at the Dialysis at Shiffa and Dialysis Centre before he travelled abroad to do kidney transplant of which he extended his gratitude to the centre for their tremendous work and courage they gave him before living the country for treatment.
He applauded the Management of Shiffa for always attending to his need whenever he comes around even after work time.
David Kandeh noted that having a Dialysis Centre in the country has been a great improvement to the health sector in the country.
