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Free kidney screening attracts 477 on Praslin and La Digue |22 November 2017

Four hundred and seventy-seven (477) people took part in a free kidney screening on Praslin and La Digue over the weekend.

The screening is an initiative of the Lions Club of Seychelles in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and telecommunications firm Airtel.

A total of 187 people took part in the free screening exercise on La Digue on Saturday while 290 from Praslin did the same the following day.

“The exercise surpassed all expectations as the Lions team did not expect such a big turnout considering that time was a constraint in view of the fact that screening teams had to go to La Digue on Saturday morning and finish the exercise by Sunday evening on Praslin. It was a herculean task considering the logistics involving 3 islands co-ordination of teams and resources.,” a spokesperson for the Lions Club said.

During the exercise, which was targeting people of 40 years and above, those who took part were tested for diabetes, hypertension, obesity and kidney disease.

“This brings the total number of patients screened in four phases of free screening to about 1,293 which includes Victoria, Anse Royale, Anse Etoile, La Digue and Praslin, » noted the spokesperson.

First the participants undertake a urine test, followed by tests for blood pressure and blood sugar level. Then a blood sample is collected by the nurses which is then analysed in a machine which gives a result in two minutes.

The exercise has been described as a preventive measure and awareness among the people on the state of their health.

“We are targeting mainly people of 40 plus as they are the ones more at risk of these non-communicable diseases. But if someone below that age comes along for a test because they feel they are at risk, we will not refuse them. But we are focusing on that age group because we encountered very long queues in previous programmes as there were people of all ages, hence the category,” said Dr Viveganand, zone chairperson of the Lions of Seychelles.

The three branches of Lions of Seychelles – Lions Club, Melvin Jones Foundation and Centennial Women’s Club -- facilitated all procedures. They are organising these kidney screenings jointly with the Ministry of Health where they are financing the equipment which analyse the samples more quickly.

“We are planning to do these kidney screenings from now on as part of our calendar of events. We are going to do the screenings in all the districts,” said Sasi Kumar, president of Lions Club Seychelles.

This is the fourth such exercise undertaken, following three previous ones in the central and southern region and Anse Etoile respectively.

All information collected will go to the Ministry of Health.

The accompanying photos show the exercise in progress on Praslin and La Digue over the weekend.

 

 

 

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