Jacob Ogodo, Abakaliki
Following the continous increase on the number of people with chronic kidney disease ( CKD) a dialysis unit (renal centre) has been established at David Umahi Federal University of Health science, Ebonyi state to cater for people with kidney related diseases.
Flagging off the institutions renal centre, the Vice Chancellor, King David federal University of Health Sciences, Uburu, Prof. Jesse Uneke lamented that chronic kidney disease is under recognised and under-diagnosed.
Uneke disclosed that patients with end-stage renal failure (ESRD) represent the tip of the iceberg of the entire burden of chronic kidney disease, adding that it is more so in Nigeria where patients often present late or not at all to health facilities for several reasons which range from prohibitive cost of health care services to use of alternative treatment like traditional/native healers.
He stressed the need for research and shared knowledge into the causes and treatment of kidney disease noting that they are vital to delay the progression of chronic kidney disease and to improve treatments and the care given through research and training .
On the part of the university, the Vice chancellor said it aims to continue to fulfil its obligation of research training and community development by adopting the highest form of professionalism, ethics and excellence by training highly qualified health and other related professionals who will work to improve health outcomes, through the provIsion of high quality, efficient, cost-effective and integrated health services.
“Our overall goal is not only to achieve the reversal on Medical Tourism but also the reversal of Educational Tourism.
“As part of the Central goal of establishing this university, which is for research, teaching and comimunity development, the university has a mandate to establish Centres of Excellence that will be reputable for advancement in research, training and patient care.
“The Centre operates with a multı-disciplinary team of experts specialising in conducting research and training on kidney related issues, and caring for people with kidney disease.
“Kidney disease is a chronic illness with four basic treatments: haemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis conservative management and transplantation, which include emptive transplantation, living donor & cadavaric transplantation.
“It is well known that chronic kidney disease is underrecognised and underdiagnosed. Patients with end-stage renal failure (ESRD) are thought to represent the tip of the iceberg of the entire burden of chronic kidney disease.
“This is more so in Nigeria where patients often present late or not at all to health facilities for several reasons which range from prohibitive cost of health care services to use of alternative treatment like traditional/native healers.
A medical health expert, Professor Sani AAl-Hassan, has attributed the rise in kidney diseases in the country to intake of contaminated foods.
Also speaking, a Consultant Urologist with the Bayero University and Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Prof. Sanni AAI – Hassan identified consumption of synthetic foods and increase in some other health conditions as other major causes of kidney diseases.
Hassan lamented the influx of fake drugs into the country which he said is also a major cause of system failure and advised Nigerians to always go for medical check up to know their health status.
He said: “There are environmental causes, that have been identified especially in some riverine areas. We are now using a lot of fertilizer for agriculture and it has been found in some riverine areas. This fertilizer actually enters water and we end up drinking a portion of it.
“Even the food we eat, there may be some remnant of this fertilizer and a lot of other synthetic food we are eating in the world is being attributed as a cause of kidney failure.
