AUTHORITIES must introduce a salt tax to mobilise resources for treating diseases caused by excessive salt consumption, such as hypertension and kidney disease, a former Cabinet minister has said.
This comes as the country lacks kidney transplant services, forcing patients to seek treatment abroad.
Speaking at the World Kidney Day commemorations in Harare yesterday, the former minister of Health, Obadiah Moyo,national health advisor to the National Men’s Forum, said kidney disease was often overlooked, hence the need for more awareness and preventive measures.
“A shift toward prevention as the cornerstone of sustainable kidney care calls for simple, yet effective, public health strategies, such as promoting healthy diets or introducing health-oriented taxation like a salt tax.
Urgent action is needed: investment in eco-friendly dialysis technologies, which must prioritise patient safety by reducing toxicity from microplastics and elutes,” he said.
“The traditional kidney care model aligned around in-centre haemodialysis is no longer sustainable — ecologically, economically, and ethically. People living with chronic kidney disease urgently need better quality of life and care. Transformation requires a holistic approach, with all stakeholders — adapted to local situations, infrastructure, and resources.”
“Currently, governments invest more in cure than in prevention, and a more balanced distribution among both factors is needed. Community detection of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) and its risk factors should be followed by effective therapies, given their wide-ranging benefits, but these should be made universally accessible and affordable.”
He encouraged the public to practise healthy lifestyle habits such as exercising and eating healthy.
“Let us prioritise our health by adopting simple yet effective habits: exercise regularly, eat a balanced diet, stay hydrated, manage our blood pressure and glucose levels, and avoid smoking.
“It is also important to ensure we use our medications as prescribed and get regular kidney function tests. Together, we can reduce the risk of kidney disease and live healthier lives,” Moyo said.
“These principles provide a framework for kidney health promotion across populations and healthcare settings.
“Albuminuria stands out as a simple, low-cost, and reliable early indicator of kidney microvascular damage and CKD, but also of related conditions, such as hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia. Aligned with this, the 2026 World Kidney Day theme, ‘Kidney Health for All: Caring for People, Protecting the Planet,’ calls for a systematic change.”
A renal nurse at CBD Dialysis Centre, Caroline Mundodzi, noted that men were less likely to seek medical help, leading to late diagnosis of the disease.
“A lot of men do not seek medical help until it’s late. Women might only get screened when they visit for maternal care, and that’s when they discover conditions like high blood pressure or diabetes, which can lead to renal failure,” she said.
“Kidney failure develops over time, so early diagnosis is key. If someone is diagnosed at stage one, there’s a better chance of managing the condition. At CBD Dialysis, we can dialyse 10 patients per day, with sessions lasting four or five hours.”
Shamaine Chirimujiri