Emmanuel Marenga a kidney patient has written to President Kenyatta requesting his support after he was diagnosed with kidney failure.The emotional letter, which captured the attention of many Kenyans, reads:
To the President of the republic of Kenya,
H.E. Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta
Dear sir,
My names are Emmanuel Marenga residing from ongata rongai.
In 2010 April, I was diagnosed with kidney failure and that was the turning point in my life. My doctors told me that the only way i could live was to get another kidney to keep going. During this process, I lost most if not all of my friends.
Sir, on 26th march 2014 ,I got a kidney from my elder sister at Knh Hospital which was a success and I thank God always for giving me a second Chance in life.I cannot also forget the family and friends that came through for me at this critical time in my life.
This joy was soon replaced by what has now turned into a living nightmare, the constant worry of running out of anti rejection drugs. Post kidney transplant management is expensive to me and the many people being diagnosed with kidney disease with statistics showing that there are Four million Kenyans diagnosed with kidney disease and the number is still rising.
NHIF was a huge boost because they catered for all the dialysis sessions I had and is still being used by other patients.The NHIF card also helped pay part of my surgery (70%).
My engagement with NHIF ended there,I only pay for the monthly contribution but they no longer look after my Post Transplant medication and clinics.
On average,a post kidney transplant patient spends Ksh.50,000 per month depending on other complications they could be having eg Hypertension and Diabetes. This money goes to drugs, labs and monthly check ups in hospital. This does not include the cost of the special diets that come with this problem.
Most Post Kidney Transplant patients have been reduced to beggars. Borrowing money from family and friends just to get 1 week Anti-Rejection drugs. Without these drugs,Transplanted kidneys are rejected by the body’s immune system because they are foreign parts.
Research has shown most post transplant rejection patients descend into depression and die within 3 years.
Mr President, Kidney disease in Kenya is fast and widely spreading and there is need to focus more on it now before it becomes a disaster here in Kenya just like cancer is today.
I do not speak for self, but for every Kenyan on a Dialysis bed in all our
hospitals daily waiting to have a kidney transplant but fears Post Transplant management costs. Some of them might not be in a position to seek help from friends like some of us would. Your Government has been most helpful by investing in dialysis equipment across the country, and NHIF is now paying for dialysis and Transplant costs. This much Needed assistance comes to an end after Transplant. Most of our helpers also abandon us at this point believing that we have been cured. A transplant is not a cure, but a treatment that comes with new costs.
Mr President, many boardroom meetings have been held,many articles written and many documentaries done, Yet all these efforts can’t explain to us how NHIF can assist us with Dialysis and Transplant because they are expensive and then abandon us with an equally expensive treatment. It just doesn’t make sense!
I would like to request that you take up this issue personally and act on it.Please try and see to it that like cancer treatment and management let also post kidney transplant management be affordable and accessible to all.
I speak for every Kidney patient here in kenya,for every Renal Doctor and Nurse who know the pain frustration and futility of going through a Transplant only to lose it due to lack of money for drugs, or being forced to remain on free dialysis because of lack of post transplant assistance.
It is tough to be a kidney patient in Kenya.
I write this with all humility and looking forward to see some Changes.
Sincerely your fellow Citizen Emmanuel marenga.
