ISN Emerging Leaders Program Member Features in the UK Newspaper The Guardian
Emerging Leaders Program member, Robert Kalyesubula
Robert Kalyesubula (Uganda) joined the inaugural ISN Emerging Leaders Program (ELP) cohort in 2021. He recently featured in an article in The Guardian as the pioneer behind a successful local healthcare program in Uganda, the Balamu project, launched to tackle non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in the region.
Read the newspaper article here.
Dr. Kalyesubula founded the African Community Centre for Social Sustainability, ACCESS Uganda, the organization behind the creation of Balamu.
The Balamu project, supported by Else Kröner-Fresenius, has established three clinics in the rural Nakaseke district to treat people with NCDs, including kidney disease. The initiative educates nurses, digitalizes medical records, and provides public education booklets. Health workers can now screen patients, make referrals and follow up on medication. The clinics have had such a positive impact that the Ugandan government plans to replicate them nationwide.
Commenting on his experience as an ELP member, Dr. Kalyesubula says, “It has been nothing short of life-changing. I have had the opportunity to meet and interact with world-class nephrologists and leaders as mentors. Above all, my cohort members have become lifetime friends and colleagues working with me in research, education, leadership and kidney care development. I am very grateful for this opportunity which I strongly recommend to every young nephrologist.”
The ISN is pleased to have such outstanding individuals on the ELP, helping to shape the global kidney care agenda worldwide to prevent and manage the considerable burden of kidney diseases.
