Guatemala: MSF highlights urgent need to care for patients with chronic kidney disease

In the three years since we opened the project in 2021, considerable progress has been made in tackling the disease and our project has impacted the lives of hundreds of people with CKD. One of the main achievements of the project proved that with the right tools it is possible to provide quality medical care to the affected people. Even with the limitations and resources of the country, it is possible to provide comprehensive care with the follow up of the health authorities. 

We have now taken the difficult decision to close our project, due to financial constraints and so that we can focus on other humanitarian activities in Guatemala. However, we stress the need for health authorities to run renal health programmes across Guatemala and to ensure that the activities set up in the three municipalities of Escuintla department can continue to benefit people’s lives and bring down mortality rates from the disease. 

“During the course of our activities, we have seen how this disease impacts the quality of life of patients and their families,” says Dr Miriam de León, MSF project coordinator. “This ranges from having to quit their jobs to get the treatment they need, to changes in eating habits and changes in everyday routines that also affect people close to them.”