DILI, 22 january 2026 (TATOLI) – Three patients have died of kidney failure at the National Hospital Guido Valadares (HNGV) since early January, according to the head of the hospital’s Internal Medicine Unit, Gustavo da Cruz.
He said the patients were admitted earlier this month along with six others diagnosed with the same condition.
Cruz described the number of deaths as high compared with previous years.
Hospital records show that between 2012 and 2025, 129 patients were treated for kidney diseases at the facility, with five deaths reported over that period.
He added that most kidney failure patients treated at the hospital are women aged between 25 and 45.
Cruz said some patients arrive at HNGV in critical condition, which may contribute to fatalities among those receiving haemodialysis.
He also said several patients transferred from Baucau died less than 24 hours after arriving at the hospital “due to presenting a severe clinical condition”.
He warned that kidney disease can have serious consequences if left untreated: “When not properly treated, kidney diseases can affect other vital organs.”
Kidney failure occurs when the kidneys lose the ability to filter waste products and excess fluids from the blood, causing toxic substances to build up in the body.
The condition can develop gradually, known as chronic kidney failure, or suddenly, known as acute kidney failure. Both forms require urgent medical attention.
Doctors say common causes include chronic illnesses such as diabetes and high blood pressure, which damage blood vessels in the kidneys.
Other causes include urinary tract obstruction, recurrent kidney infections, excessive use of certain medicines, trauma and autoimmune diseases.
TATOLI
