By Foday Moriba Conteh
As the world is poised to celebrate World Kidney Day tomorrow, Thursday 11th March 2021, the Shifaa and Dialysis Center has 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 will end today Wednesday 10th March 2021 at St. John in the West End of Freetown.
The three day street sensitization on kidney health will be climaxed with a program to be organized by Shifaa and Dialysis Center situated at 8 Campbell Street, Freetown to mark World Kidney Day.
Speaking to this medium during an exclusive interview, the Manager and Director of Administration of Shifaa and Dialysis Center, Dalanda Bah revealed that World Kidney Day is a worldwide event that is observed on the second Thursday of March every year, adding that the purpose of the event is to raise awareness of the functions and the importance of the kidney, how to reduce the frequency and impact of Kidney diseases and their associated health problems in the lives of individuals.
She added that it was against such a backdrop that they thought it fit to undertake such an awareness raising three day activity on the causes of kidney health complications and how to prevent contracting them. Dalanda furthered that it will be followed by free testing adding that there are series of causes of kidney failure that result into patients needing dialysis which include Diabetes, High Blood Pressure, smoking, alcohol intake, family history of kidney diseases etc.
The Manager and Director of Administration also intimated that Shifaa and Dialysis Center, been a specialist clinic for Kidney diseases, thought it fit to embark on the three (3) day sensitization. She said the global theme of this year’s celebration is “Wellness” which they have domesticated into the local theme, “Education in Enhancing the Quality of Life” pointing out that with education on Kidney health such will help to make the populace become aware of how they can prevent themselves noting that they are doing so with the strong conviction that such could be helpful especially at this decisive moment when the issue of Kidney health complications has become alarming in Sierra Leone and the world as a whole.
She disclosed that in most cases once people are diagnosed with kidney health complications they become part of their lives especially those diagnosed with end stage renal failure which means their kidney cannot work again.
Dalanda informed that at Shifaa and Dialysis Center they perform dialysis which helps the body to do the work of the kidney artificially stating that they have the requisite and right equipment at their center.
She also stated that in order to promote the consumption of healthy diet they have the Shifaa Kitchen at the Center that doesn’t only provide healthy meals with no sodium or maggi for their patients and family members saying it is also open to members of the public.
“You can consider us as a One-Stop Renal Center in Sierra Leone as we provide qualitative care for all dialysis patients at every level of their diseases. We are capable of treating the renal patients requiring dialysis at any stage,” she also disclosed.
She called on all Sierra Leoneans needing Dialysis treatment to come and visit their facility as they provide the best quality treatments that are performed by well-known members of staff who are professionals maintaining that the Center is situated at a suitable and congenial environment, adding that the Center opens between the hours of 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. from Monday through Saturday.
According to her, on Sundays and after hours they are open for emergencies only and patients are asked to visit them at 8 Campbell Street in Freetown or contact them via Email: Shifaadialysiscenter@gmail.com, website: shifaadialysiscenter.com.
Mariama Turay, a business woman at Up Gun, expressed appreciation to Shifaa and Dialysis Center for the awareness campaign on kidney health which she described as a move in the right direction in addressing kidney health in the country.
She promised to put into practice all what she has learnt about the preventive and causative factors of kidney health complications stating that in turn she will also educate people around her about kidney health.
Abdul Kamara, a bike rider at Lumley, who also benefited from the awareness rising campaign showered praises on Shifaa and Dialysis Center for such a move in educating them on Kidney Health, adding that he has been smoking before but that he was unaware that such could lead to kidney health complication and stated that with this awareness he will surely stop smoking in order not to have kidney failure in the future.
