Listening
Unlocking Word Meanings
Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.
- nauseous / ˈnɔ ʃəs / (adj.) – a sick feeling, as if one might vomit
Example:He felt nauseous after riding the roller coaster.
- gap / gæp / (n.) – a lack of something important
Example:The company wants to reduce gaps in communication by holding meetings every month where employees can freely share their thoughts.
- nephrologist / nəˈfrɒl ə dʒist / (n.) – a doctor who is an expert in treating diseases that affect the kidneys
Example:The nephrologist discussed the importance of drinking water for kidney health.
- strain / streɪn / (n.) – something that causes problems and is very difficult to manage
Example:The long hours at work put so much strain on him that it made him sick.
- overstretched / ˌoʊ vərˈstrɛtʃt / (adj.) – having more work or pressure than one can manage or handle
Example:The high demand for the new product resulted in overstretched factory workers who had to work long hours.
Article
Read the text below.
A shortage of dialysis centers in Kenya means patients with kidney failure often have to travel long distances to be treated. Now, an organization is starting to ease that burden with an innovative mobile dialysis unit.
The 12-wheeled truck hauls a modern clinic around Murang’a County, offering dialysis to patients who live far from traditional treatment centers.
Eliud Mwangi is a 63-year-old farmer from Murang’a County who has been undergoing dialysis treatment since 2021. For much of that time, he faced the challenge of traveling long distances to access dialysis services. The journey, which he had to make twice a week, was both exhausting and costly. On top of that, he often felt nauseous after treatment and endured an uncomfortable ride home.
“Let me say that the distance that I had been traveling has been reduced to less than three-quarters. Now the dialysis is near me, less than 20 minutes from my home,” Mwangi says.
The project has been spearheaded by an organization called Benacare.
“We identified critical gaps in access to healthcare for these patients, especially patients who are having to travel like an average of 250 kilometers one way to receive dialysis and then they have to do it twice a week for the rest of their lives,” explains Naom Monari, the founder and CEO of Benacare.
“We came up with a model of having mobile dialysis and that is mobile hemodiafiltration moving from community to community and offering this service to the patients. And this is the first mobile truck we have launched,” she adds.
The truck can treat three patients at a time. Although it is small compared to other clinics, it still means scores of people receiving essential care over the course of a week.
The mobile unit is also fitted with the latest hemodiafiltration machines, which, Naom says, perform better than traditional dialysis machines.
Dr. Jonathan Wala, a nephrologist and the president of the Kenya Renal Association, agrees that the mobile units do have some clear advantages, including reducing the strain on overstretched hospitals.
He cautions, however, that they also have their limitations.
This article was provided by The Associated Press.
Viewpoint Discussion
Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.
Discussion A
- Dr. Jonathan Wala believes that mobile dialysis units help reduce the strain on overstretched hospitals. Do you think mobile healthcare units could help solve other healthcare problems? Why or why not? Should mobile healthcare units be a long-term solution or just a temporary solution for overstretched hospitals? Why? Discuss.
- In your country, do you think hospitals are overstretched? Why or why not? What do you think are the biggest problems in your country’s healthcare system? Discuss.
Discussion B
- Before the mobile dialysis unit, some patients had to travel 250 kilometers for treatment twice a week. Would you be okay with traveling long distances for better quality treatment? Why or why not? Do you think people should move closer to essential services, or should services come to them? Why? Discuss.
- In your country, do people living in rural areas have to travel far to access essential services? How do you think your government could make essential services more accessible to people living in rural areas? Discuss.
