Health authorities have found that more than 100 children are battling kidney disease, and a passionate local doctor has helped Guyana secure a grant to enhance much-needed pediatric care.
Pediatric nephrologist, Dr. Areefa Alladin on Tuesday disclosed that the Georgetown Public Hospital was approved the grant which can over time hit a maximum of US$60,000 to support pediatric nephrology capacity.
“That grant is through the University of Calgary as the mentor centre, Georgetown Public Hospital will be the mentee centre and they will guide us through to the end goal,” Dr Alladin told the News Room.
Dr. Alladin is a passionate doctor working at the main referral hospital as the only pediatric nephrologist and she applied for the grant through the International Society of Nephrology (ISN), the global organisation responsible for guiding nephrology education and practice around the world.
Dr. Alladin noted that kidney disease care has been identified as a global priority by the World Health Assembly, with projections indicating that chronic kidney disease could become the fifth leading cause of death worldwide by 2040.
These are worrying global figures but there is much cause for concern in Guyana too. In fact, Dr. Alladin said about 120 children with kidney disease have been identified at the Georgetown Hospital.
With the new grant, care for these children should be enhanced.
“We want to become a centre of excellence where we will be providing that training and that service to the rest of the Caribbean,” Dr. Alladin said.
Additionally, the efforts to strengthen prevention and treatment of kidney failure go beyond support. The nephrologist said improving kidney care will also require greater investment in laboratory and diagnostic services, including kidney biopsies, immunology testing, virology studies, and imaging support, as well as ensuring access to medications for treatment.
Through a six-year plan, stakeholders hope to better address kidney disease through a multidisciplinary approach involving public and private partnerships, alongside support from organisations such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO).
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