<div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Aga Khan University Hospital has launched a kidney transplant support group to help sensitize kidney patients about kidney transplants and also promote local transplant surgeries.</span></div><div><br style="font-family: helvetica;"/></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The recently held support group brought together kidney patients undergoing dialysis, patients awaiting transplant, kidney donors and recipients to share ther experience and encourage each other. A multidisciplinary team of specialists including consultant nephrologists, renal nurses, chaplains and nutritionists were available for a one on one consultation with the participants.</span></div><div><br style="font-family: helvetica;"/></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">According to Dr Ahmed Twahir, Section Head, Nephrology at Aga Khan University Hospital, “kidney transplant is the most effective and best treatment option for patients with chronic kidney disease..  Successful kidney transplant offers better quality and longer life and patient’s survival compared with dialysis. After successful surgery, the recipient is able to enjoy a normal life often referred to as the ‘Gift of Life’.  The good news in Kenya is that this operation is covered by most insurance companies including NHIF.</span></div><div><br style="font-family: helvetica;"/></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Dr Ahmed Sokwala, Consultant Physician and Nephrologist, Department of Medicine at Aga Khan University Hospital, explained that hospital had carried out successful kidney transplant procedures since 1995, but the numbers of kidney transplants done at the hospital had increased since 2012.  The cost compares favourably with treatment abroad, avoids travelling expenses and the patient has the support of family members and friends.</span></div><div><br style="font-family: helvetica;"/></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The hospital will be holding the event every year and is open to kidney disease patients within the hospital and also from other hospitals.</span></div><div><br style="font-family: helvetica;"/></div>