Every year, March 13 marks the World Kidney Day, a special moment to remember the importance of kidney health and the urgent need to address kidney-related diseases that affect millions worldwide.
This year’s theme—Are Your Kidneys OK? Detect Early, Protect Kidney Health—emphasises the importance of three critical actions.
These include targeted testing for populations at risk, availability of simple but non-invasive tests for high-risk populations and early detection policies to reduce healthcare costs associated with kidney failure and improve quality of life.
While these actions are vital for all, children are among the most vulnerable groups often overlooked in the conversation.
In Malawi, paediatric kidney diseases are a silent crisis.
Young patients face significant challenges, ranging from delayed diagnoses to limited access to life-saving treatments.
The World Kidney Day must shine a light on their struggles and advocate for change.
Understanding paediatric kidney diseases is a necessity.
A wide range of conditions that affect children’s kidneys include hereditary anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract, nephrotic syndrome and acute kidney injury.
If left undiagnosed or untreated, these conditions can lead to severe complications such as chronic kidney disease or kidney failure.
The symptoms often include swelling, fatigue, poor appetite, poor growth and frequent urination.
However, in low-income settings like Malawi, these signs are frequently missed or misinterpreted, leading to delayed diagnoses and poorer outcomes.
However, these kidney diseases remain a hidden crisis.
Due to limited data, it is difficult to determine their exact prevalence rates. However, healthcare providers report a growing number of cases, many of which are diagnosed at advanced stages.
Malawi’s healthcare infrastructure struggles to meet the demands of paediatric nephrology. Diagnostic tools like ultrasound machines and laboratory tests are often unavailable in rural areas.
Additionally, there is a severe shortage of paediatric nephrologists, medical doctors who specialise in diagnosing and treating kidney conditions. Only one is available nationwide.
For many families, the cost of traveling to central hospitals for specialised care is prohibitive, leaving countless children untreated.
These challenges are compounded by a lack of awareness among parents about the signs of kidney disease and limited training for healthcare providers to recognise and manage these conditions effectively.
The gaps can have a devastating impact on children and families.
The burden of paediatric kidney diseases extends far beyond physical symptoms.
For children, these conditions can lead to stunted growth, developmental delays and a diminished quality of life.
For families, the financial strain of medical expenses and the emotional toll of caring for a chronically ill child can be overwhelming. Many parents are forced to choose between paying for their child’s treatment and meeting basic household needs, a decision no family should ever have to make.
This is a call to action.
But what can we do?
Beyond celebrating the World Kidney Day, we must come together to address the gaps in kidney care in the country.
lRaise awareness: Knowledge is the first step toward early diagnosis and treatment. Share information about paediatric kidney diseases with your community to help parents and healthcare workers recognise the signs.
lAdvocate for Policy Change: Urge policymakers to invest in paediatric nephrology, including training for healthcare workers and the provision of diagnostic tools and medications. Early detection policies must be a priority to save lives and reduce long-term healthcare costs.
l Support local initiatives: Donate to organisations working to improve kidney care in Malawi. Your contributions can fund life-saving diagnostic tools, medications and training programmes.
Beyond the global commemoration, we can make a difference in the lives of countless children.
Let us commit to ensuring that every child with kidney disease in Malawi has access to the care they need to thrive.
Let us ask ourselves: “Are their kidneys okay?” Together, we can turn the tide and give children with kidney disease the brighter future they deserve.
