On the occasion of World Kidney Day, the situation regarding kidney disease care in the Kédougou region highlights the challenges faced by the Amath Dansokho Regional Hospital Center in Kédougou. The hospital's dialysis unit, although functional, is currently operating at its maximum capacity.

Limited capacity in the face of demand

The dialysis unit currently has 11 stations, allowing it to treat 22 patients per day. The system operates with two daily connections, with a third connection scheduled for Monday and Thursday afternoons to optimize equipment use.

Thanks to this organization, the facility is able to provide care for 28 chronic dialysis patients. However, despite these adaptation efforts, the needs remain far greater than the available capacity.

A worrying waiting list

Today, 15 patients are on the nephrology department's waiting list. Among them, some are already at stage 5 of kidney failure, an advanced stage of the disease that requires urgent dialysis treatment.

Due to a lack of available beds, these patients are forced to wait, a situation that worries healthcare professionals. Other patients, currently receiving treatment at dialysis centers in other regions, also wish to be transferred to Kédougou to be closer to their families and benefit from more accessible medical care.

A very small specialized staff

Currently, care is provided by a single nephrologist and two senior technicians, serving a regional population estimated at 245,402. This shortage of specialized human resources increases the pressure on the department and complicates the expansion of healthcare services.

Towards capacity building

Aware of these challenges, the management of the Amath Dansokho Regional Hospital is taking numerous initiatives to strengthen its medical infrastructure. The stated objective is to equip the hospital with a larger and better-equipped dialysis center, capable of meeting the growing needs of kidney failure patients in the region.

On this World Kidney Day, hospital officials are calling for increased mobilization of health authorities and partners to improve access to care for kidney patients in Kédougou and surrounding areas.