On the occasion, the two governors spoke with "the first patients to benefit from hemodialysis services".
According to a statement from the Cunene government, to which VerAngola had access, the first patients "were satisfied", and praised the government's initiative "in providing hemodialysis services to the people of Cunene and beyond, since previously they were forced to travel to the province of Huíla or to the neighbouring Republic of Namibia".
In statements to the press, cited in the statement, the provincial governor said that these services will "strengthen the health system in the province, since ensuring health is an essential pillar for the country's socioeconomic development".
On the occasion, she also highlighted that this is "an exciting moment, since patients who are in other provinces will be able to return home", the statement reads.
This is the first time that the province of Cunene has had hemodialysis services and, according to Georgina Nunes, director of the Cunene Health Office, the hemodialysis centre, which is scheduled to open this week, has a dialysis room equipped with 12 beds and technologically advanced machines.
According to the director, this Wednesday they began receiving and providing care to patients transferred from Benguela, Huíla and Namibia.
"Today [Wednesday], we began receiving and treating patients transferred from the provinces of Benguela and Huíla, as well as from Namibia. The unit will now treat patients with chronic and acute renal failure in three dialysis sessions per week", she said, quoted by Jornal de Angola.
The official considered that this service represents a great achievement for Cunene, given that patients had to travel to other parts of the country in search of treatment.
For now, seven patients from Huíla are already receiving treatment at the Cunene hospital. However, the director said that other patients who needed to seek treatment in other areas will come to the province to be treated at the hospital.
João Baptista and Filipe Kanhanga are two examples of patients who are satisfied with these new services. According to Jornal de Angola, Baptista lives in Ondjiva and, before the opening of the hemodialysis service in Cunene, he sought treatment in Huíla. However, he now no longer needs to travel so far, reducing his expenses.
"The lack of money for a taxi was the main problem. I spent a lot on transport", he said, adding: "I was forced to live seven years away from my family. All this suffering is now behind me".
Filipe Kanhanga also highlighted the advantages of the launch of this service, saying that his life is now easier. "Now my life is easier, I can receive medical care at home", he said, quoted by Jornal de Angola.
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