The Deputy Minister of Health, Dr Godwin Mollel has on Friday, May 19, told the Parliament that seven percent of Tanzanians live with kidney disease.
He explained that the disease was largely linked to high blood pressure, diabetes, and HIV and AIDS infections.
Dr. Mollel was answering a question from a Special Seat Member of Parliament, Ms Asia Abdukarimu Halamga, who wanted to know the status of kidney disease in the country.
“Mr. Speaker, I would like to urge people to test their kidneys regularly because the consequences of a delay in identifying a kidney problem are serious and the cost of treatment is very high,” he said.
Earlier this week, the government explained in parliament that it plans to reduce the cost of dialysis from Sh350,000 to Sh90,000.
“We have found that instead of this costing Sh350,000, there is a possibility that someone will be treated for between Sh90,000 and Sh150,000, so we have a plan to lower these costs,” the deputy minister said in parliament
