Chapter 13 - End Stage Renal Disease (ESKD) in Egypt and North Africa

Abstract

Five North African countries, addressed in this chapter, share common genetic, geopolitical and socio-economic factors that reflect on the epidemiology, etiology, and management of end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). ESKD burden, according to World Health Organization (WHO) definition, is estimated to cause an annual loss of 22,500 life years across these five countries due to death or disability. The associated direct annual economic burden amounts to US $30 Million. Besides the economic burden, ESKD throws a considerable social burden on the community, particularly when it comes to the practice of renal transplantation. North African countries are facing this challenge at the levels of prevention, and trying to accommodate all patients in expanding nationally sponsored dialysis programs and struggling to establish effective transplant programs. The human resources are generally insufficient, when compared to norms in the developed countries. There are significant differences between individual countries regarding the numbers of nephrologists and nurses, due to local cultural and socio-economic factors. Education and training programs are fairly well developed, both locally and through multiple international channels. Egypt and Tunisia are actively engaged in providing training to nephrologists and nurses in neighboring African and Arab countries. There are national renal societies in all, a national kidney foundation in Egypt, and kidney patient associations in Egypt and Tunisia.