By YVONNE CHATE –

GOVERNMENT has released K1, 350 000 towards the procurement of seven Kidney dialysis machines at Ndola Central Hospital.
Copperbelt Provincial medical officer Consity Mwale said the procurement of the dialysis machines would guarantee facilitation of renal services at all tertiary hospitals on the Copperbelt.
Dr Mwale said in an interview yesterday that the procurement of the kidney dialysis machines would help patients with kidney failure to filter harmful wastes, salt, and excess fluid from their blood.
“Government has released K1350 000 of which 1120 000 is for seven dialysis machines, K30,000 for the beds and K200, 000 for plant machinery that powers the dialysis  machines,” Dr Mwale said.
Dr Mwale said the seven dialysis machines were expected to be at Ndola Central Hospital (NCH) in June.
He said the machines would prevent death caused by lack of kidney dialysis at NCH.
“The dialysis machine has been on the Government’s agenda because many lives have been lost,” he said
He said early diagnosis and treatment of kidney diseases might help prevent the need for kidney transplant.
Dr Mwale said with the expected machines, it would be easy to attend to patients with Kidney failure because the province would have 11 dialysis machines of which four were already at Kitwe Central Hospital (KCH).
He said Kitwe Central Hospital would also receive six more dialysis machines from the Ministry of Health.
“It is gratifying that NCH is receiving seven kidney dialysis machines and KCH already has four functional dialysis machines and is also expecting an additional 6 machines,” he said.