The Nyasoso Health Campaign is an expanded awareness and sensitization campaign as an intervention and recommendation from our previous campaign carried out in Nyasoso last year August 2022. Nyasoso is a locality in Cameroon located 12km from the town of Tombel in Koupe-Manengouba division and the South-west Region. This Campaign was carried out in collaboration with the Nyasoso Youth Developmental Association and Cameroon Association of English Speaking Medical Students. It was a Three days campaign on kidney health
education, community health screenings, and general consultation, dissemination of medications and health talks which ran from the 15th to the 18th of August 2023. The campaign was a massive success as we were able to reach-out to over 200+ participants consulted and given medications during screenings and sensitization with 142 successfully screened for diabetes, kidney function, hypertension and obesity.

The mean age of our participants was 46.66 ± 15.13 with a minimum age of 11 and a maximum age of 85years, 46.429% (65/140) of our participants were normal weight with 30.7% (43/140) overweight and 23.57% (33/140) obese. Following analysis with respect to blood pressure, it indicated that 21.898% (30/137), 25.55% (35/137) and 52.555% (72/137) were hypertensive, pre-hypertensive and normal respectively. Finally our data indicated that we had a distribution of 26.6% (37/129) as diabetics and 14.38% (20/129) as pre-diabetics.

Rationale for the Proposed Project

Following our previous screening activity organized in the Nyasoso community upon invitation by the Nyasoso youths development association, we noticed that a huge number of the persons screened were either pre-hypertensive or hypertensive (45.8%(22/48) presented as pre-hypertensive (120-139mmhg), 27.1% (13/48) reported as stage 1 hypertensive (140-159mmhg),  and 12.5% (6/48) were stage 2 hypertensive (>= 160 mmhg)) with many not aware of their condition and for the few that were, only a handful were fully proper medication. Considering that the population screened with just a handful of the total population of the Nyasoso community, we believe that it is imperative that we conduct a secondary screening and sensitization campaign to identify other person at high risk of developing non communicable diseases and follow up already identified individuals to ensure proper management of their condition.

Goals and Objectives

• To screen and sensitize 99% of the total Nyasoso community for major risk factors such as Diabetes and Hypertension
• To identify high risked persons and document them for follow-up

Expected Results      

• The population of Nyasoso will be aware of their risk level in the development of NCDs such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, hypertension and chronic kidney disease.
• Increase adherence to medications of high risk persons
• Improvement on the overall management of high risk individuals
• Increase awareness on NCDs by the overall population
• Reduction in the overall mortality and morbidity associated with ignorance to NCDs

Mr. Arrey Ojong, a 55 year old lecturer at the Opportunities Industrialization Center in Buea, Cameroon (OIC). He was diagnosed with kidney disease five years ago and is currently undergoing dialysis at the Buea Hemodialysis Center in Cameroon. As a Kidney Disease Advocate with The IYA Foundation Buea, he shares his experiences and challenges living with kidney disease in Cameroon.

What activities were carried out During this year’s Campaign ?
1. Health sensitization and awareness creation through: Social Media ( Facebook, Instagram,
LinkedIn), 4 Tv Stations ( Hi Tv, Pstv, LDtv, CRTV), 2 radio stations ( Divine Mercy radio, CBS radio).
2. Screening Campaigns involving over 150 participants from 2 cities in the Southwest region
Cameroon on the leading causes of CKD ( Diabetes, Hypertension and Obesity)
3. Kidney Health Walk which involved 300+ participants from both in and out of the Buea
Municipality.
4. Food Security Program to assist Patients with ESRD with basic necessities.

You can read through the full report below

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Adjusting to a diagnosis of chronic illness often comes with a sense of loss and grief usually as a result of the drastic lifestyle changes that accompany such diagnosis. This sort of overhaul in one’s life and having to deal with symptoms, combined with the thought of dealing with the illness forever triggers feelings of depression.

On October 10th, the world celebrated WORLD MENTAL HEALTH DAY. The theme focused on adolescents.

The following are some key facts provided by World Health Organization:

• One in six people are aged 10–19 years.
• Mental health conditions account for 16% of the global burden of disease and injury in people aged 10–19 years.
• Half of all mental health conditions start by 14 years of age but most cases are undetected and untreated.
• Globally, depression is one of the leading causes of illness and disability among adolescents.
• Suicide is the third leading cause of death in 15–19 year olds.
• The consequences of not addressing adolescent mental health conditions extend to adulthood, impairing both physical and mental health and limiting opportunities to lead fulfilling lives as adults.
• Mental health promotion and prevention are key to helping adolescents thrive

So many people struggling with chronic illnesses such as Chronic Kidney Disease and Kidney failure suffer depression as well. Although any illness can trigger depressed feelings, the risk of chronic illness and depression gets higher with the severity of the illness and the level of life disruption it causes. The risk of depression is generally 10-25% for women and 5-12% for men, however people with a chronic illness face a much higher risk – between 25-33%. Risk is especially high in someone who has a history of depression. (WebMD)

Good news is there’s treatment available for depression. Talk to your health care team if you experience any feelings of depression.

Some Tips for Improving Mental Health Include:

1. Manage and reduce stress levels
2. Get regular exercise
3. Cultivate a sense of belonging
4. Seek help and support others to do the same
5. Educate yourself – learn as much as you can about your condition
6. Try to keep doing the things you like to do
7. Offer compassion

• Highlight the actions that individuals can take to prevent and control CVD
• Drive action to educate people about controlling risk factors (such as tobacco use, unhealthy diets, physical inactivity)

Below are slides that educate on how heart disease and kidney disease are connected.

Tampa, FL – The American Association of Kidney Patients (AAKP), the nation’s oldest and largest, fully independent kidney patient organization announced plans to join patient research efforts for The Kidney Project. The Kidney Project is a cutting-edge national research initiative that is accelerating the creation of a small, surgically implanted, and free-standing bio-artificial kidney to treat End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD).

Alongside Kidney Project leads Dr. Shuvo Roy, PhD, Technical Director at the University of California, San Francisco and Dr. William H. Fissell, MD, Medical Director at Vanderbilt University; the AAKP Center for Patient Research and Education will provide valuable patient insights. Initially, AAKP will deploy a comprehensive online survey to obtain unique qualitative and quantitative data on patient preference, perception, and risk tolerance for new and innovated therapies such as wearable and implantable devices.

Founded in 1969, AAKP has a legacy of supporting private, non-profit and public sector innovations in kidney care treatment and has significantly expanded its capacities to support innovation through a robust and highly diverse national kidney patient database.  AAKP works closely with Federal government payors, regulators and quality experts to help officials understand patient needs and risk tolerance. AAKP has conducted significant patient-centered research for multiple Federal agencies and medical professional societies.

“The AAKP partnership with The Kidney Project formalizes an already strong relationship among Dr. Shuvo Roy and Dr. William H. Fissell, AAKP leadership and our Center for Patient Research and Education. Kidney patients refuse to settle with the dialysis status quo and want a substantive role in bringing artificial implantable technologies into the market since these devices could better enable them to pursue their aspirations, including full-time work.” stated Paul T. Conway, AAKP president. Conway is a transplant recipient and a former Chief of Staff of the U. S. Department of Labor.

“With the severe shortage of donor kidneys, the vast majority of ESRD patients must rely on dialysis. The bio-artificial kidney will provide these patients an alternative treatment that will free them from the tether of a dialysis machine and allow them to eat and drink freely,” said Dr. Fissell. Dr. Roy added, “The unique construction of the implantable device using silicon membranes will provide continuous removal of toxins from blood and also alleviate the need for immunosuppressants”.

“Dr. Shuvo Roy and Dr. Fissell are vigorous patient advocates dedicated to transforming kidney care for current patients and those yet to be diagnosed.  AAKP is committed to helping The Kidney Project navigate policy issues within the Executive Branch and Congress necessary to make this effort a reality,” stated Richard Knight, AAKP Vice President and Chair of Public Policy. Mr. Knight is a transplant patient and a veteran of Capitol Hill, with experience working on business and health issues with the Congressional Black Caucus.

For more information on The Kidney Project, please visit www.pharm.ucsf.edu/kidney and for information on patient research opportunities with AAKP, please visit www.aakp.org/research.

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The Iya Foundation MENA Academic Scholarship for Dialysis Patients is now accepting applications now through September 31st 2018. Click on the following link for a copy of the requirements MENA Flyer-2b. Click the following link for the French version MENA Flyer-2b-French Version

Transferring knowledge through awareness is a core objective in the altruistic mission of The Iya Foundation Inc. We approach wellness from a holistic perspective and see health as wholesome when all aspects including mental and social are in sync with the physical well being of a person.

At The Iya Foundation, we believe in EDUCATION. Hence, giving someone a chance at acquiring knowledge is of utmost importance to us.

Today, we are excited to be providing this opportunity to dialysis patients in Cameroon who happen to be dealing with many challenges just be being dialysis patients.

In addition to the prizes, winners will have the priviledge of being honored as brand ambassadors for The Iya Foundation. Good luck to all applicants. 

For additional inquiries, email info@theiyafoundation.org

By Iya Bekondo-Granatella, Founder of the Iya Foundation Inc.

Introduced in 2017, the Dialysis PATIENTS Demonstration Act (H.R. 4143 / S. 2065) is a bill that promises a demonstration program for the provision of integrated care to Medicare beneficiaries with End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD). In this case, the acronym PATIENTS means Patient Access to Integrated-care, Empowerment, Nephrologists, Treatment, and Services. This bill, pioneered primarily by large dialysis organizations (LDOs), proposes an alleged value based integrative care program that claims patients will experience reduced hospitalization, optimize medical use and efficacy, and improve the overall outcome in the quality of care of patients. Essentially, the bill mandates a new way of delivering care by allowing dialysis organizations to create organizations that are responsible for 100% of services that dialysis patients need with payment on the basis of Medicare Advantage Capitated rates. Although the bill seems fair on the surface, it really is NOT. Not only is it coined to significantly compromise patient access and referral to organ transplantation, it is detrimental to patient centered care, disadvantageous to nonprofit and smaller dialysis organizations, and risks robbing patients of their rights and choices.Therefore, patient centered organizations like the American Association of Kidney Patients, and the Iya Foundation along with top national kidney patient advocacy organizations like the American Society of Nephrology, American Society of Transplantation, American Society of Transplant Surgeons, Association of Organ Procurement Organizations, Dialysis Clinics, Inc., amongst many others OPPOSE this bill. The following are some of the key reasons why these entities OPPOSE the PATIENTS Demonstration Act:

• Restricts Patient Voice and Choice: based on this bill, patients will be automatically enrolled into an organization, with only 75 days to opt out of it. Unfortunately 75 days is not enough time to make such an important decision for an already traumatized and fragile patient who is probably still dealing with the life changing diagnosis of having to deal with ESRD for the rest of their life. More so, the ability for patients to choose their own providers serves as an added incentive for innovation and improvement in the quality of care delivered by providers. Stripping this power from patients restricts their patient voice and choice.
• Exacerbate Existing Silos of Care: this bill focuses only on dialysis and does not look at uphill management and slow down progression of chronic kidney disease. It claims to incorporate integrated care but does not include CKD care, palliative care, medical management, and hospice – all of which are critical services. Instead, the program requires that a patient leave the organization if that kind of care is needed.
• Creates Dis-incentives for Transplantation: transplantation is a highly complex surgical procedure. Under this proposed law, LDOs will be in charge of transplant coordination. The irony in this is that, most of them make more money with patients on dialysis as opposed to transplantation hence there won’t be much incentive for them to recommend transplantation to patients who need it. This is because, for every successful transplant, an Organization’s Medicare payment will be reduced by about $80,000; a massive cut on their profits.
• Infringe on the Patient-Physician Relationship and Disrupting Care: With this program, patients are assigned specific nephrologists who are part of an organization’s select network. This causes a problem as nephrologists who are not part of these networks, will be prohibited from seeing patients in those units, thereby disrupting the patient-physician relationship and subsequently the quality of care of patients.
• Risks Eliminating Non-profit and Small Dialysis Providers: Under this act, dialysis organizations will be allowed to acquire or create insurance companies with little or no effort, allowing them to be the at-risk entity of Medicare Advantage Plans. Essentially, they will be allowed to bare full-risk (100%) for the care of ESRD patients or partner with an entity that can. What this kind of capitated risk does is that it puts nonprofits and smaller dialysis providers who cannot come up with 100% of the cost of services to the patients at risk of closing. This also limits patient access to the unique and high quality care often provided by these smaller facilities.

As you can see, the only people who stand to benefit from this bill are Large Dialysis Organizations who clearly did not consider kidney patient needs as a priority. The Iya Foundation Inc. joins the oldest and largest patient centered independent kidney organization, American Association of Kidney Patients, and the nation’s top kidney patient advocacy groups to prevent this bill from going through. Join us by signing the petition here or click on the following link http://aakp.org/action-center/

References from www.aakp.com