Mengo Hospital has partnered with Rotary Kampala South to enhance its Dialysis Unit, aiming to increase accessibility and affordability of life-saving dialysis services.
This collaboration was announced during a fundraising breakfast at the hospital, where the Rotary District Governor, Anne Nkutu, commended the hospital’s medical team for their dedication to providing quality and affordable care.
Speaking at the event, Nkutu, who is the Rotary District Governor of District 9213, commended the Mengo Hospital medical team for their dedication to providing quality and affordable dialysis services.
She also reaffirmed Rotary’s commitment to supporting the unit in its expansion and affordability efforts.
“This is a noble cause that aligns with our core values of extending affordable healthcare services to the general public. We are committed to continuing our support for the Mengo Dialysis Unit to acquire more dialysis beds and lower treatment costs. The current fee of Shs250,000 per session remains high for many Ugandans,” Nkutu stated.
Dr. Simon Peter Nsingo, Executive Director of Mengo Hospital, emphasized the growing demand for dialysis services due to the increasing prevalence of non-communicable diseases.
“Uganda has seen a significant rise in patients requiring dialysis, with many seeking help only when their condition has reached a critical stage. Although our dialysis services are among the most affordable in the private sector at Shs250,000 per session (excluding consumables), these costs remain out of reach for many,” he explained.
Dr. Nsingo also outlined plans to expand the facility saying, “We aim to increase our capacity from three dialysis beds to at least 10 in the near future. Currently, our unit is so busy that some patients arrive as early as 5:00Am to secure treatment. By expanding our services, we can accommodate more patients and ultimately save more lives,” he added.
Need for Affordable Dialysis
He noted that Uganda has seen a significant rise in patients requiring dialysis due to the increasing prevalence of non-communicable diseases. Despite Mengo Hospital’s dialysis services being among the most affordable in the private sector, the current fee of Shs250,000 per session remains out of reach for many.
Community Outreach
As part of International Kidney Week, Mengo Hospital has launched a lifestyle sensitization social media campaign under the hashtag #KnowYourKidneys to promote kidney health awareness and preventive measures. The hospital will also conduct free screening and sensitization outreaches at Mengo Market and Lungujja Kitunzi Trading Center.
Call to Action
The Rotary Club of Kampala South President, Samuel Ssewagudde, appealed for additional support from corporate entities and individuals to help lower the costs of dialysis and make it more accessible to the average Ugandan.