Dimapur District Hospital might finally get dialysis unit

Dimapur, Sep. 11: It is surprising that District Hospital in Dimapur, the only government hospital in the state’s commercial hub, still doesn’t have a dialysis unit that is used to treat kidney failure (renal failure). But the hospital may soon get the much-needed facility if all goes well, as a few non-profit organisations (NGOs) have shown interest in setting up one.

The District Planning and Development Board (DPDB), Dimapur, decided in its monthly meeting held on Tuesday to write a letter to the Medical Superintendent of the District Hospital to install a dialysis unit in the hospital.

The board also decided to approach the department of Higher Education to repair the collapsed wall of Dimapur Government College. They also decided to recommend the authority in concern to upgrade the Royal Academy at H. Khehoyi village Niuland, Dimapur.

The Medical Superintendent of the District Hospital, Dr. Z Khesito Zhimo told Eastern Mirror that he hasn’t received any letter from DPDB but would form a team to deliberate on the issue when it comes to his notice. He revealed that a few NGOs, including Airport Authority of India have expressed interest in setting up a dialysis unit at the hospital. He added that their request to give a piece of land on which the facility could be set up would be forwarded to the state government.

“The NGO would run the unit on low cost for a period of 5–6 years after which they will return the land and their establishment/unit to the government,” Zhimo informed.

The Medical Superintendent said a memorandum of understanding (MoU) would be signed between the state government and the NGO once the deal is struck to determine the terms and conditions to run the dialysis unit. They also have to discuss on whether the government will recover the land and the dialysis unit completely or only partially after the expiry of the contract.

Asserting that the proposal of the NGOs to set up a dialysis unit is a good move, he said that he would speak to the ministers, commissioners, and principal directors as they have been getting so many cases in the district. “We are getting so many of this cases reported in our hospital since the facility in the private hospitals are expensive,” he said.

When asked why the government still hasn’t opened a facility as important as this, Zhimo pointed at lack of manpower, saying that nephrologists are not easily available in the state.

Causes of kidney failure in the Naga society

Zhimo said the main reason for renal failure among the Nagas is ignorance, as people are not aware of the problem until it becomes very serious. He added diabetics and hypertension as other reasons for acute kidney injury. Consuming too much salt and alcohol, and lack of exercise are some of the reasons for kidney problems, he said.