Renal Care

What is Renal Care?

Renal failure is a potentially life-threatening condition in the paediatric population, and concerns acute kidney failure among infants and children. This is a condition where the kidneys acutely stop working and the poisonous substances accumulate and acids and body salts in the body derange to the point where this is incompatible with life. This is treated with vital peritoneal dialysis for the patient. This is a rare skill in Namibia for this age group.

My Experience

After qualifying as a paediatrician at Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital Cape Town, I attended an intensive training course in paediatric renal care, gaining experience in insertion of peritoneal drains and performance of acute peritoneal dialysis. This training has enabled me to have performed life-saving peritoneal dialysis in small children from a few days of age with acute kidney failure up to 13 years of age. Previously, no such service had been available in Windhoek, and it was essential for me to be able to offer these children this skill set. It is a useful skill for improving survival rates in the critical care setting (ICU and NiCU).