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Ray of hope for patients at paediatric nephrology clinic
SHARJAH — Young Zahra Ali’s pretty face appears puffy and rotund. She is also a wee bit shorter than an average six-year-old but is as chirpy and active as any child of her age should be.
However, this was not the case a few years ago when Zahra suddenly developed the unexplainable medical condition Nephrotic Syndrome which led her to lose blood proteins through her kidneys and made her very sick, explains her doctor.
Zahra has since then been put on steroids and has shown much improvement though the side effects of the medicine may leave her short-statured. Chances are that she may outgrow her condition by the age of 18 but until then she would have to continue her medication.
The newly-opened paediatric nephrology clinic at Al Qasimi Hospital holds promise for young patients like Zahra suffering from chronic renal problems.
The brainchild of Emirati doctor Entisar Al Hammadi, paediatric nephrologist working at the UAE Ministry of Health, the clinic has the full support of the Sharjah government and the Ministry. Approximately, only six paediatric nephrologists are deployed by all government hospitals across the emirates.
“There was an urgent need for such a clinic here since most patients were either being treated in Dubai Hospital or Shaikh Khalifa Hospital in Abu Dhabi,” says the doctor.
Currently, Dr Entisar holds the clinic once a week, but plans to increase the frequency to twice a week.
“We have a 60 to 70 per cent paediatric population of which a considerable number suffers from some form of kidney problems,” says the doctor who recently returned from Canada after completing her training.
Dr Entisar has already seen a number of young patients with chronic renal failure requiring dialysis and other treatment at the clinic. “Nearly 80 per cent of my patients are non-locals,” she explains, adding that chances of recovery are greater if the condition is picked up early. She has also referred at least 10 patients to Shaikh Khalifa Hospital in Abu Dhabi for kidney transplant assessment which, she says is less traumatic for the patient.
“Travelling abroad for a transplant is very expensive for any patient,” she says. “It is easier for them if the procedure is carried out here in the country.”
The clinic has been set up after a detailed study carried by Dr Entisar showed that there was an urgent need. Plans are on to expand the weekly clinic to a full unit to offer dialysis and other services and employ fully trained staff.
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