YOUTH 'N'
HEALTH
BACKGROUND
End-stage renal disease (ESRD) in children and young people
constitutes a major stress for the child and family. Like any
other chronic illness, this stress may lead to depression, low
self-esteem and a poor personal self-image. The child is likely
to have doubts about his or her skills, abilities and potential
for solving future problems.
All
children with chronic kidney disease face many challenges. However,
our young people come from poor background, deprived communities,
little family support and socially isolated. The issue is compounded
by taboos and myths about kidney failure leading to young people
unable to get the services they need. The physical challenges of ESRD
are medication side effects, surgical scars, external catheters,
urinary leakage, as well as decreased physical strength, endurance and
energy levels.
The
psychological challenges that our young people face are chronic
anxiety about impending pain, dialysis fistula needles, operations,
and invasive procedures, loss of vascular access, dietary restrictions
and limited activity. A study by Kidney Research UK found out that
young African people on dialysis have higher rates of disruption of
school, social life, family disruption from financial pressures, as
well as limited social maturation and peer relationships.
The project
The project is going to provide preventive and supportive
measures. Preventive measures would involve the use of qualified
psychosocial support from trained counsellors including support
from nutritionists, play therapists, occupational and physical
therapists and psychologist and/or psychiatrist.
Supportive measures would involve activities such as bringing parents
and children together and work with dialysis units to allowed parents
to stay in the dialysis treatment area when necessary. We will also
provide frequent holiday parties including music, food, entertainment
and we invite children on dialysis and who have had kidney transplants
to attend. Trips to local amusement parks will be arranged, as are
outings to sport and leisure activities and selected sightseeing
opportunities
If you would like to get involved, please get
in touch with us.
This project was made possible with a grant
from BBC Children in Need .
Supported by ________________________
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ACTIVITIES
Transplant Games, Conferences, meetings, workshops all click
here
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