Diepkloof hosts community kidney health awareness day
The Rena le Iona Creative Centre for Children in Diepkloof Zone 6 teamed up with health and media partners to host a kidney awareness event offering education, free screenings, and survivor stories to empower local residents.
The Rena le Iona Creative Centre for Children hosted a flagship community kidney awareness event in collaboration with Sounds of Azania, Ingoni FM, Naeto World Media, Sukuma Sakhe Isizwe, Ezase Three Productions, Duze Graphics Underkhonstruction, and more at Diepkloof Zone 6 on June 17.
The event aimed to reach 400 residents, combining education, community upliftment, and health screenings in an engaging format. Kidney failure survivors shared their journeys and educated the community.
The highlight of the event was performances by various artists, keeping attendees engaged and entertained.
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Mlungisi Mvelase, centre manager at Rena le Iona, said: “We saw a need for people to be aware of their health, especially kidney health.
We have realised that kidney disease can be deadly, and people, particularly youth, don’t have much information about it. We would like to encourage the community to regularly visit clinics to check their health.”
Muzi Sibisi, a radio presenter at Sounds of Azania, stated: “I was diagnosed with kidney failure in 2011.
“I didn’t know that I was born with one kidney and it was small; the more I grew, the more pressure it had.
“I got a transplant in 2017, and unfortunately, it had the BK virus and it went untreated. I had to go back to dialysis.
“My life has changed a lot, but I would say to people that there is life after being diagnosed with kidney failure. Such initiatives can save a lot of people because they will know and be aware.”
Thandeka Lebotse, a professional nurse from Sub District D, Soweto clinics, highlighted the symptoms of kidney failure and things one needs to stop doing once diagnosed with kidney failure, such as smoking and limiting alcohol consumption.
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“It is not the end of the world if you have kidney problems; you can live with one kidney if the other can’t be saved.
“If our clinic checks your blood and sees that something is wrong, we will transfer you to Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital (Bara) so that you can get proper treatment,” she said.
