Strengthening nephrology treatment for Senegal’s young patients
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The ISN Educational Ambassadors Program and Saving Young Lives come together to support training collaboration for Senegal’s pediatric nephrologists, improving kidney care for the country’s younger generation.
Younoussa Keita, from Hopital Aristide Le Dantec (Senegal) and Stefano Picca, ISN Educational Ambassador, pediatric nephrologist and former Head of Dialysis Unit at ‘Bambino Gesù’ Children’s Hospital (Italy), joined forces to help the team in Dakar set up their own much-needed pediatric program.
Over the period of a week, they held a course specifically focused on training doctors and nurses about hemodialysis (HD) and peritoneal dialysis (PD) treatment for children with acute kidney injury (AKI). There were valuable interactive discussions following each talk and practical training session.
Dr. Keita is one of only two trained nephrologists at Le Dantec, which houses the only Pediatric Nephrology unit in Dakar. He explains: ‘Consumables for PD and HD are available. Children with AKI are treated in the HD adult units but there is little expertise and no structured program for AKI children on PD.’
According to him, there are 10 to 20 children with AKI per year needing dialysis. Moreover, dialysis is available for free, and a renal transplantation program is about to start.
Adding: ‘Children needing dialysis are treated in one of two adult HD units, but pediatric nephrologists are in charge of the clinical management. There is also no nurse specifically dedicated to treating children on hemodialysis, although two nurses take care of children on chronic peritoneal dialysis.’
Saving Young Lives sets out to support centers such as this one in Dakar. Calling upon the experience and expertise of an ISN Educational Ambassador was crucial in developing tailored onsite training.
Find out more about Saving Young Lives HERE. See how you can join the ISN Educational AmbassadorsProgram as a host, CLICK HERE.
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