Experts advocate for improved kidney dialysis in Tanzania

The burden of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in Tanzania is growing at an alarming rate, prompting medical experts to call for urgent adoption of advanced dialysis technologies to reduce mortality. Reports show that CKD is increasingly becoming a major public health concern in Tanzania, affecting an estimated 7 to 15 percent of the adult population. Speaking during a recent nephrology conference, Prof Ruggajo, also the Associate Dean at the Aga Khan University pointed out that many Tanzanians suffer from undiagnosed kidney diseases, progressing silently until they reach end-stage renal failure. At this stage, patients require either hemodialysis or a kidney transplant, yet access to these treatments remains limited due to cost and infrastructural constraints. “High-volume hemodiafiltration (HDF) is a superior method compared to conventional hemodialysis because it significantly enhances toxin removal, balances chemical levels in the body, and improves patients’ overall well-being,” he stated.