Hemoperfusion Technology in Tanzania: A Dialysis Nurse's Transformative Journey

In many low- and middle-income countries, access to advanced blood purification therapies remains limited. And this is despite the growing burden of critical illnesses such as drug poisoning, severe sepsis, liver failure, and debilitating uremic complications. In Tanzania, until recently, hemoperfusion—a life-saving extracorporeal blood purification technology—was largely unknown and unused in routine clinical practice. This is the story of how hemoperfusion technology was introduced, implemented, and locally trained for the first time in Tanzania, led by a Tanzanian registered dialysis nurse. A background rooted in dialysis care I am a Tanzanian registered dialysis nurse with over seven years of experience in renal replacement therapy, critical care support, and extracorporeal treatments. My clinical background includes work in dialysis units, medical-surgical wards, emergency care, and intensive care environments. Over the years, I witnessed patients suffer from conditions that conventional hemodialysis alone could not adequately address—particularly severe drug poisoning, refractory uremic pruritus (skin itching), and inflammatory conditions. This gap in treatment options motivated me to pursue advanced training in hemoperfusion technology. Introducing hemoperfusion to Tanzania In 2023, I began pioneering the introduction of hemoperfusion technology in Tanzania in my role as a Dialysis Applications Specialist, becoming the first and only specialist dedicated to hemoperfusion training and implementation in the country at that time. Hemoperfusion is a blood purification technique that removes toxins, inflammatory mediators, and protein-bound substances directly from the bloodstream using adsorption cartridges. Unlike conventional dialysis, it is particularly effective in cases of acute poisoning, severe pruritus, liver failure, and cytokine-driven illnesses. From theory to patient impact The transition from theory to clinical practice required careful planning, multidisciplinary collaboration, and hands-on training. Since 2023: • Over 200 medical professionals—including nurses, dialysis technicians, physicians, and Intensive Care Unit (ICU) staff—have been trained on hemoperfusion principles, indications, safety, and clinical application. • Hemoperfusion has been successfully initiated in multiple hospitals and clinical settings, including critical care environments. • More than 30 hemoperfusion cartridges have been used to treat six patients suffering from severe skin itching related to renal failure and acute drug poisoning. • All treated patients recovered well, with marked clinical improvement and no major complications reported. These early outcomes demonstrated that hemoperfusion is not only feasible in Tanzania, but also safe, effective, and adaptable to local healthcare systems when proper training is provided. Building local capacity, not dependence A central goal of this initiative has been capacity building. Rather than relying on external expertise, the focus has been on empowering Tanzanian healthcare workers with practical skills—covering patient selection, cartridge priming, circuit connection and disconnection, monitoring, complication management, and post-procedure care. This approach ensures sustainability and allows hospitals to integrate hemoperfusion into routine care protocols where appropriate. Challenges and lessons learned Introducing a new medical technology in a resource-limited setting is not without challenges. These include limited awareness, cost considerations, and the need for continuous education. However, strong collaboration with clinicians, hospital management, and biomedical teams has proven that innovation is possible when there is shared commitment to patient outcomes. Looking ahead Hemoperfusion has the potential to significantly improve outcomes for critically ill patients in Tanzania and across the region. With continued training, policy support, and integration into national treatment guidelines, this technology can become a valuable adjunct to existing renal and critical care services. My journey demonstrates that local healthcare professionals can lead innovation, adapt advanced medical technologies, and improve patient care without waiting for solutions to come from outside. As Tanzania continues to strengthen its healthcare system, investing in local expertise and advanced therapies like hemoperfusion will be key to saving lives and advancing critical care. About the Author Benjamin Emmanuel Meshack is a Tanzanian Registered Dialysis Nurse (RN) and Dialysis Applications Specialist (DAS), with over seven years of experience in dialysis and blood purification therapies. He is the first specialist to introduce and train hemoperfusion technology in Tanzania and has trained more than 200 healthcare professionals nationwide. He is also known professionally as “benmbusule” through healthcare education and outreach initiatives.