News / Health
Former teacher needs $32k for kidney transplant
22 Jan 2016 at 07:06hrs | Views
THE notion that access to health is a universal right to life is an elite option reserved only for those who can afford it and one needs to be in the shoes of renal patient, Mr Zacharia Mavunganidze - who is failing to raise $32 000 to undergo kidney transplant in India to appreciate this sour truth.
Poverty is an instrument for his suffering.
Mavunganidze (52), a former teacher, developed kidney problem early this year and shuttles to Harare thrice weekly for dialysis.
His wife, Ipai and brother, Evans, have volunteered to donate their kidneys. Both met required medical conditions to donate.
Mr Mavunganidze was full of life in January 2015 and had no slightest inkle of what fate had in store for him. Three visits to the doctors and a blood test in February revealed that his kidneys were badly damaged.
The envied and uninvited guest wholly debilitated him by August – turning the family's joy into anguish and gloom.
Kidneys filter by-products of body chemistry and adjust the amount of liquid in the bloodstream and the renal failure led to serious illness.
He is a shadow of himself. His health has gone downhill, appetite has gone and he has become very fragile. He suffers shortness of breath and swollen legs as a result of his deteriorating kidney function. His body aches, encounters difficulty getting out of bed and became short of breath with very little exertion.
He developed mouth sores and difficulty in swallowing.
Mr Mavunganidze has always been very active, but has became wan, withdrawn, and without energy at all.
It is awful to see him like this.
"He is very tired and sleeps a lot. Tiredness is worse especially after dialysis, given that he also has high blood pressure.
He can hardly see, talk, eat, walk or do anything by himself. Worse of all he is bed-ridden and heavily malnourished. He was the bread winner, and life became extremely hard since he fell ill," said Mrs Mavunganidze, a teacher in Rusape.
When the kidneys fail completely, one cannot live for long unless they have dialysis or a kidney transplant.
Doctors have recommended a transplant, yet this too is an elite option reserved for those who can afford it. There are no transplant programmes in Zimbabwe, and desperate patients travel outside for operation with their donors.
While South Africa used to be the destination of choice, high costs have pushed kidney patients towards India where costs are low and service remains good.
Mr Mavunganidze needs $32 000 for the transplant and other costs for the three's time in India.
He cannot afford such 'luxury'.
Family savings have been channeled toward dialysis and drugs.
Dialysis is a treatment that does some of the things done by healthy kidneys.
It is needed when your own kidneys can no longer take care of your body's needs.
Dialysis keeps the body in balance by removing waste, salt and extra water to prevent them from building up in the body, keeping a safe level of certain chemicals in the blood, such as potassium, sodium and bicarbonate and helping to control blood pressure. It is an expensive process that is offered a few hospitals in the country.
"Our situation is so desperate to the point of using public transport to and from Harare for dialysis. We cannot afford fuel money for the three sessions. Doctors have recommended a kidney transplant, but lack of money has prevented him from going the quicker route," she added, with tears welling in her eyes.
The Mavunganidzes have so far raised $10 000 which falls short of the amount required.
Despite his frailty, Mr Mavunganidze remains optimistic.
What he wants most in his life was to recover from the illness.
He drew inspiration from Mollen Nyamhotsi-Makoni, of Rusape, who last year developed a kidney problem and undergo successful surgery in India.
Mollen, who is on the mend, visited him last week, and offered encouragement.
"I can make it. I want my health back. I want to recover from this illness. There is a solution already and many have gone through the successful transplants and regained their health. I have the faith and all I need at the moment is financial help to undergo the transplant in India. People should help me instead of giving me a less chance of survival. I can be clear of the kidney ailment after receiving specialist care," said Mr Mavunganidze.
His latest blood tests are good, but doctors were concerned about low nutritional value.
A dietician has recommended fluids limit, a low-protein diet, less salty foods, potassium, phosphorous, and other electrolytes and enough calories since he is losing weight.
Poverty is an instrument for his suffering.
Mavunganidze (52), a former teacher, developed kidney problem early this year and shuttles to Harare thrice weekly for dialysis.
His wife, Ipai and brother, Evans, have volunteered to donate their kidneys. Both met required medical conditions to donate.
Mr Mavunganidze was full of life in January 2015 and had no slightest inkle of what fate had in store for him. Three visits to the doctors and a blood test in February revealed that his kidneys were badly damaged.
The envied and uninvited guest wholly debilitated him by August – turning the family's joy into anguish and gloom.
Kidneys filter by-products of body chemistry and adjust the amount of liquid in the bloodstream and the renal failure led to serious illness.
He is a shadow of himself. His health has gone downhill, appetite has gone and he has become very fragile. He suffers shortness of breath and swollen legs as a result of his deteriorating kidney function. His body aches, encounters difficulty getting out of bed and became short of breath with very little exertion.
He developed mouth sores and difficulty in swallowing.
Mr Mavunganidze has always been very active, but has became wan, withdrawn, and without energy at all.
It is awful to see him like this.
"He is very tired and sleeps a lot. Tiredness is worse especially after dialysis, given that he also has high blood pressure.
He can hardly see, talk, eat, walk or do anything by himself. Worse of all he is bed-ridden and heavily malnourished. He was the bread winner, and life became extremely hard since he fell ill," said Mrs Mavunganidze, a teacher in Rusape.
When the kidneys fail completely, one cannot live for long unless they have dialysis or a kidney transplant.
Doctors have recommended a transplant, yet this too is an elite option reserved for those who can afford it. There are no transplant programmes in Zimbabwe, and desperate patients travel outside for operation with their donors.
While South Africa used to be the destination of choice, high costs have pushed kidney patients towards India where costs are low and service remains good.
Mr Mavunganidze needs $32 000 for the transplant and other costs for the three's time in India.
He cannot afford such 'luxury'.
Family savings have been channeled toward dialysis and drugs.
Dialysis is a treatment that does some of the things done by healthy kidneys.
It is needed when your own kidneys can no longer take care of your body's needs.
Dialysis keeps the body in balance by removing waste, salt and extra water to prevent them from building up in the body, keeping a safe level of certain chemicals in the blood, such as potassium, sodium and bicarbonate and helping to control blood pressure. It is an expensive process that is offered a few hospitals in the country.
"Our situation is so desperate to the point of using public transport to and from Harare for dialysis. We cannot afford fuel money for the three sessions. Doctors have recommended a kidney transplant, but lack of money has prevented him from going the quicker route," she added, with tears welling in her eyes.
The Mavunganidzes have so far raised $10 000 which falls short of the amount required.
Despite his frailty, Mr Mavunganidze remains optimistic.
What he wants most in his life was to recover from the illness.
He drew inspiration from Mollen Nyamhotsi-Makoni, of Rusape, who last year developed a kidney problem and undergo successful surgery in India.
Mollen, who is on the mend, visited him last week, and offered encouragement.
"I can make it. I want my health back. I want to recover from this illness. There is a solution already and many have gone through the successful transplants and regained their health. I have the faith and all I need at the moment is financial help to undergo the transplant in India. People should help me instead of giving me a less chance of survival. I can be clear of the kidney ailment after receiving specialist care," said Mr Mavunganidze.
His latest blood tests are good, but doctors were concerned about low nutritional value.
A dietician has recommended fluids limit, a low-protein diet, less salty foods, potassium, phosphorous, and other electrolytes and enough calories since he is losing weight.
Source - Manicapost
