Kamuzu Central Hospital is now able to offer special surgery for patients suffering from kidney stones.

According to Dr Charles Mabedi of the hospital, Malawians can now access such care locally, for the first time ever.

Dr Mabedi, who is a consultant urologist, said, “The hospital has over time been building capacity to enable it offer such a service.

“In collaboration with colleagues from United Kingdom, under the banner of Meditech Trust and Urolink, the hospital conducted 11 successful keyhole kidney stone surgeries between 31st January and 4th February 2022, majority of whom were being considered for an external referral,” he added.

According to Dr Mabedi, kidney stones are mostly caused by not drinking enough water, eating too much meat and salt plus much weight gain. Signs and symptoms of kidney stones include loin or tummy pain which is on and off, blood in urine, and frequent urine infections.