KARACHI, Nov 12: The role of nurses and technicians in patients’ care came under spotlight at a symposium organized by the Kidney Foundation.

Prof Fazal Akhtar of the Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation was of the view that dialysis not only purifies blood but is a complex treatment.

While underscoring the importance of treating patients as a whole, he said that the role of nurses is highly important because he/she remains in constant touch with patients and so they are in a better position to assess problems.

“They (nurses) are the ones who will ask a consultant to see a patient if there is a need. They spend the most amount of time with a patient,” he said.

Prof Akhtar also discussed in detail the acute complications of dialysis such as fever, low blood pressure, etc. He emphasized the need to look for infection which is a cause of morbidity and mortality all over the world.

Dr Bilal Jamil dealt with the most important aspect of kidney disease — anaemia. Anaemia can be the first sign of kidney disease, he said and added that iron therapy is very important but assessment of iron store is mandatory.

Prof Jaffar Naqvi, secretary of the Kidney Foundation, emphasized the need for increase in budgetary allocations in health and education sectors.

According to him, health and education should be fundamental rights and should never be withdrawn under any emergency situation.

“We are spending only 0.6 per cent of GNP on health and 2.01 pc on education. This can never lead to any progress,” he said.

Over 200 nurses and technicians from across Sindh attended the symposium.