"DFC has been an invaluable finance partner for Africa Healthcare Network by helping us to increase our footprint across East Africa in a short period and enabling us to ensure we never compromise on quality for our patients. We have been extremely grateful to the DFC team for ensuring we were able to access financing at competitive rates and after a short approval process. We are here as living proof of the commitment DFC has placed in healthcare in developing countries, most notably Africa, and we are a proven testament that indeed, together we can create value and provide much needed care to the underserved to save lives."
– Michael Kariuki Chege, Chief Financial Officer, Africa Healthcare Network
Challenge
In addition to presenting a global health emergency, the COVID-19 pandemic has exposed underlying weaknesses in healthcare in developing countries that have left communities more vulnerable to both communicable and chronic disease. In Sub-Saharan Africa, an estimated one million people suffer from chronic kidney disease requiring dialysis.
Solution and Impact
A DFC loan is supporting the expansion of Africa Healthcare Network, the first dialysis chain in Sub-Saharan Africa focused on expanding access to affordable and quality care. Africa Healthcare Network will use the loan to improve dialysis care in existing hospitals in Kenya, Tanzania, and Rwanda, while establishing clinics to screen for kidney disease as well as registries for patients who are at risk.
In addition to expanding support for some of the people whose underlying health conditions make them especially vulnerable to COVID, the project helps to address a growing challenge of non-communicable diseases in Africa.
As women hold four of the six leadership positions at Africa Healthcare Network, DFC's investment also supports the agency's 2X Women's Initiative to advance women's economic empowerment.