There is a ray of hope for kidney disease patients in Lamu County after the devolved government signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Nephromed Kenya Limited, a deal that will see to it a new renal unit is established for the first time at the Mpeketoni Sub-County Hospital.

Mpeketoni Sub-County Hospital in Lamu West is the second largest health facility in Lamu after the King Fahd County Referral Hospital located in Lamu Island.

The facility has, however, never had a renal unit despite serving a huge population, majorly from the mainland areas of Lamu and the neighbouring Tana River County.

Speaking in Lamu during the inking of the deal between the Lamu Department of Medical Services and Nephromed (K) Limited officials, Governor Issa Timamy termed the intended establishment of the renal unit at Mpeketoni Sub-County Hospital as crucial to the residents.

Mr Timamy said the unit will ease the burden for patients with end-stage kidney disease who have had to travel a long distance to acquire the life-saving intervention at King Fahd Hospital receive such treatment within their vicinity.

He emphasized the importance of Public-Private Partnerships as a strategy to bridge financial gaps experienced by counties with very low exchequer allocation such as Lamu.

“I am happy to witness the signing of this crucial deal that will see Mpeketoni get a new dialysis unit. This will ease the burden of the tens of patients always travelling from the mainland areas to Lamu Island at King Fahd just to get dialysis services,” said Mr Timamy.

Lamu Health Executive Mbarak Bahaj noted that many patients with kidney complications come from the mainland areas of Mokowe, Hindi, Mpeketoni, Witu and surrounding areas, including the neighbouring Tana River County.

Dr Bahjaj said once a dialysis unit is established at Mpeketoni, cases of referrals either to the King Fahd County Referral Hospital or even outside Lamu, will be reduced or curbed altogether.

“Sometimes patients with kidney complications are forced to travel to Malindi, Kilifi or Mombasa to get treatment. But once a dialysis unit is established at the Mpeketoni Sub-County hospital, that means referrals to outside Lamu will be curbed,” said Dr Bahjaj.

Nephromed (K) Limited Chief Executive Officer Mr Deepak Sharma said Nephromed was committed to support and work with the County Government of Lamu in ensuring the Mpeketoni Dialysis Unit is established soonest.

“This will help in ensuring there’s comfort, care, and safety at every step of the patients’ dialysis journeys in this place,” said Mr Sharma.

The Mpeketoni Renal Unit, which will have between four(4) to six(6) dialysis machines, is expected to be completed and operationalised by the end of September 2024.

This will be a new dawn to the Lamu West residents.

Lamu has had challenges with its main renal unit at the King Fahd County Referral Hospital that has on many occasions left kidney patients in need of dialysis plunged to darkness and suffering.

The renal unit at King Fahd, for instance, has several times failed to function due to a shortage or the lack of fresh and quality water to run the machines.

The available water, sometimes after testing and assessment, has been proved to be too saline to run the dialysis machines.

The move forced the Lamu County Government to install a mini-desalination plant within King Fahd Hospital compound to serve the renal unit though only three(3) machines are operating.