A diabetes clinic. Drugs for diabetes, heart disease and cancer, are increasingly in demand in poorer nations whose populations are now living longer. File
With the ever present bright smile on his face, one can’t tell how severe the pain is that young Bryan Ndegwa has been through since he was born.
He is only seven months, but unlike his peers, he has had no chance to enjoy playing with toys.
Generally at four months, a boy is expected to start sitting up with ease during bathing and feeding time. Bryan’s case, however, is different, he has a hole in his heart.
His pulse rate increases immediately I try making him sit on a chair during the interview.
This does not stop him from humming notes while nodding his head, however.
Bryan is suffering from a cardiovascular disease medically referred to as ventricular septal defect (VSD) — or simply: a hole between the two ventricles of the heart.
Professor Gerald Yonga of the Aga Khan University Hospital, says VSD is a birth defect affecting the partition between the left and the right ventricle of the heart, resulting in a communication hole between them.
He says diagnosis and surgical correction of the condition is possible in Kenya and has been done with success rates comparable to any high quality medical centre in the developed countries.
But the process is very expensive.
“It cost between Kshs350,000 and 450,000 (about $4,488 to 5,769 ) for the operation — all costs inclusive from admission to discharge.
The charges at Kenyatta National Hospital, however, are lower, owing to a government subsidy.
The hole, explains the cardiologist, allows oxygenated blood from the left ventricle to mix with de-oxygenated blood in the right ventricle — which is not a normal part of the body physiology.
Previously considered as the disease of the rich, these lifestyle diseases are now catching up with the poor who cannot afford the expensive medication required. They also lack access to information on how to manage these lifelong conditions.
Yonga faults adverse living conditions brought about by poverty, lack of access to good nutrition, healthcare and poor infrastructure.
“The most surprising bit is that these diseases are largely preventable by simple measures such as reducing fat intake and consuming more vegetables and fruits,” he says.
At a crucial stage when his peers are enjoying their active peak, Bryan’s encounters with hospital beds and medical tests has yielded more confusion than answers. His mother, Meridith Kioko, 21, says after being admitted for two weeks at the Mbagathi Hospital, Bryan’s condition worsened, prompting the doctors to refer him to Kenyatta Hospital.
At KNH he was put under electrocardiogram and echocardiogram (ECHO) examination for sometime, then the doctors broke the news one morning. Bryan had a large hole in the heart.
Research by the African Population and Health Research Centreshows that in the slums, many people die from causes that can be prevented or cured but they lack access to medical services.
Around 37 per cent of those over 50 years have hypertension, the research shows. Of these, only 27 per cent are aware of it, and of those who are aware, only 45 per cent seek treatment.
This means that for every person in this age group on treatment for hypertension, there are seven who need treatment but are not getting it.
source: theeastafrican.co.ke
No comments:
Post a Comment