Paulina Quintao – Cases of renal failure are on the rise in Timor-Leste with one of the potential causes being the poor quality of water consumed by the Timorese.
The Chief of the Department Non-Infectious Diseases at the Ministry of Health Doctor Herculano Seixas dos Santos said research into the main causes of kidney disease has not been conducted but according to some expert's kidney disease occurs due to the consumption of water lacking in normal concentrated levels of calcium.
He added another of the causes of renal failure is hereditary and that if one of the family members has a history of kidney disease it is possible it will affect later generations but the percentage of such cases is low.
"Drinking water that lacks normal levels of calcium can cause kidney stones which may lead to renal failure," said Doctor Herculano during a community meeting to increase general awareness of kidney disease held at Balide Churk, in Bali, Dili.
The ministry of health has been conducting a campaign over the years encouraging people to always boil water to kill all bacteria living in it before consuming it. "It is unhealthy to drink it straightaway because it is harmful to people's health".
The ministry of health in cooperation with the secretary of state for water and sanitation including development partners are debating the ministry's plan of action to monitor and control clean water consumption and health of the community.
Suffers from kidney disease will require regular blood transfusions and in more serious cases might require a kidney transfusion that cannot be performed in Timor-Leste and is difficult even in more developed nations.
In later 2014 the Ministry of Health bought four additional blood transfusion machines for the national hospital increasing to eight the number of dialysis machines available for patients. Nevertheless the eight dialysis machines are not yet enough because the high number of patients requiring blood transfusions.
Currently 24 patients of kidney disease are undertaking treatment in Indonesian hospitals.
Meanwhile the National Director for Water and Sanitation Services (DNSA) Gustavo da Cruz said clean water distribution to the community is guaranteed to be of good quality because the water is filtered in a laboratory prior to distribution.
He added DNSA takes regular samples of water for laboratory analysis for bacteria and to undertake other chemical tests.
"We are confident that the water we treat at every station is of high quality but we cannot guarantee it at the consumer's homes because pipes are often drilled arbitrarily which may cause bacterial contamination," said Director da Cruz.