GOVT TASKED ON RISING INCIDENCE OF KIDNEY DISEASE
Government has been tasked to put policies and interventions in place to check the rising incidence of kidney diseases in the country. Experts have advised that government can provide specialized centers for free screening and treatment of kidney diseases and ensure that immunosuppressive drugs administered after a successful transplant are affordable to patients.
According to Dr Ebun Bambgoye, leading consultant nephrologist at the St Nicholas Hospital, Lagos, 'there is a lack of governmental intervention in the form of enacting policies that ensure that these diseases are recognized early and putting in place public health measures to control them'.
In a country still battling with a myriad of health issues, kidney diseases and kidney failure seems to be on the back burner with little or no attention paid to the millions of Nigerians either living with or at risk of this disease.
The kidneys are complicated and amazing organs that have numerous biological roles. Their primary role is to maintain the balance of body fluids by filtering and secreting metabolic waste and minerals from the blood and excreting them, along with excess water as urine.
Experts say kidney diseases often develop slowly and symptoms only appear at a late stage when the patients already has advanced kidney failure and may even need dialysis. According to a report, Renal Replacement Therapy (RRT) which is either dialysis or transplantation requires major lifestyle changes for the patient and is extremely costly as it is paid for out of pocket by Nigerians. 'Presently, it costs about N5million annually for dialysis, about N4million for a transplant and about N150, 000 monthly for immunosuppressive drugs after a successful transplant'.
Statistics have estimated that about 150, 000 new cases of end stage kidney failure requiring dialysis emerge each year in Nigeria and its prevalence is increasing dramatically due to increasing incidence of hypertension, diabetes and glomerulonephritis. Many people are currently not aware that their kidneys are damaged and usually find out too late. 'It is important to emphasize that the need for expensive RRT can be avoided if kidney diseases are detected early.
'In Nigeria, there is little or no access to RRT, meaning many people simply die. In essence, kidney failure is usually a death sentence if not detected early and managed properly'.
The 2012 World Kidney Pay Campaign is 'Donate a kidney for life- Receive',focusing on the positive outcome of kidney transplantation and the life saving aspect of organ donation.