Kidney patients who were seeking treatment at Nyeri referral hospital have been dealt with a blow after Cuban doctor attached to the hospital was forced to return to her country.
Nephrologist Eisy Cabrera returned to her country after she discovered to have a brain tumour.
County Health Chief Officer Newton Wambugu who confirmed her departure stated that “She left after a one-month observation period and treatment in Nairobi.
He went ahead to praise the contribution she had made since she started working in hospital in July.
Wambugu added, “She made proposals towards service improvement at the hospital. We endeavour to implement them in our strategic plans.”
He also assured that her absence would not be felt for long as they were expecting a replacement by the end of 2018.
Dr Cabrera, who was part of the delegation of Cuban doctors working in the country, was a nephrologist and focused on the treatment of kidney conditions and abnormalities. Dialysis at the referral hospital is currently being conducted by a physician who took over when she left.
The lack of a nephrologist at the hospital will likely result in delays in treatment, considering the number of people with kidney diseases, high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity have been rising.
Nyeri county leads in the prevalence of non-communicable disease, with diabetes affecting 6.4 percent of the population.
According to the World Diabetes Foundation, the prevalence rate of the disease is about 3.3 percent in Kenya.
Hypertension and diabetes are among the top ailments that cause permanent damage to the kidneys, accounting for about two thirds of damage.
Contributors include obesity, smoking and high cholesterol levels, which has been highlighted as the major reasons why Nyeri leads in lifestyle diseases.
The renal unit at the hospital handles between 12 and 15 patients daily. The first two processes cost Sh9,500 a week while the third costs Sh3,000.
Central region has only one nephrologist employed by the government. The doctor is based in Thika, Kiambu County.
Statistics indicate that last year, Kenya had 29 nephrologists and 260 nephrology nurses, who handled kidney complications and dialysis.