Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, a few days ago, disclosed that about 15% of adult Nigerians have Kidney failure that cannot be reversed. And it’s life-threatening if left untreated.
Obasanjo, who spoke at the 36th Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference of the National Association of Nephrology with the theme: “Optimizing Dialysis Therapy To Prolong Survival”, which held at the main Auditorium of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital, said from available reports, ‘one out of seven’ Nigerians have kidney failure.
The former President therefore declared that there is urgent need for legislative support in terms of a new bill to support people with kidney disease.
He also appealed to relevant security bodies to help with necessary laws on the emerging organ trafficking in the country, especially with regards to cadaveric donations.
In a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Akinyemi, Obasanjo highlighted 4 areas to address the burden and challenges in the management of kidney disease, even as he noted that several strategies could be followed at the same time.
He commended the body for its work with regards to advocacy, screening, enlightenment and periodic collaborations with a view to reducing prevalence of the disease, especially, among youths and children.
“I have also been informed that the prevalence of kidney failure in Africa is higher than anywhere else in the world as an average African is 4 times more likely to develop kidney problem than a Caucasian or Mediterranean race.
According to the former President, “This is the 36th meeting of the Nephrology Association of Nigeria and it is my delight to commend your association for its work with regards to advocacy, screening, enlightenment and periodic collaborations with a view to reducing the prevalence of kidney disease among our people especially, among youths and children.
“From available reports, 1 out of 7, that is, about 15% of adult Nigerians have kidney failure which cannot be reversed and is life-threatening if left untreated.
“I have also been informed that the prevalence of kidney failure in Africa is higher than anywhere else in the world as an average African is 4 times more likely to develop kidney problem than a Caucasian or Mediterranean race.
Causes of this disease, Obasanjo stated, “include hypertension, diabetes, kidney infections, genetic, habitual consumption of undefined herbal medications, and chronic analgesic abuse amongst a list of causes. The burden of chronic kidney disease is further exacerbated by the high prevalence of these risk factors. Late presentation is also a problem which further leads to increased morbidity and mortality.
“Many countries in the continent are undergoing rapid epidemiological transitions and are confronted with the double burden of communicable and non-communicable diseases, in part driven by the adoption of Western lifestyles and rapid urbanization.”
He noted that treatment must start with prevention and healthy lifestyle, while, “in severe cases, apart from drugs, intervention by way of machine treatment (dialysis) or outright replacement (transplantation) are the way out.
“I wish to acknowledge the role of NHIS in providing limited support for only six dialysis sessions, but I want to suggest a need to consider increasing the carrying capacity substantially as obtains in South Africa and Sudan.”
Obasanjo also disclosed that, “we also need to invest in local production of dialysis consumables to bring down the cost of dialysis care. Supporting dialysis and transplantation services for children not only improves health outcomes but also reduces the need for Nigerians to seek these services abroad, saving foreign exchange. It fosters trust in the government, encourages local production of medications and dialysis materials, creates employment, and enhances the country’s visibility in international healthcare organizations. Ultimately, strengthened policies can prevent unnecessary deaths, improve healthcare access, and boost the nation’s healthcare infrastructure.”
At this juncture, I want to call on diasporas, well-meaning philanthropists, foundations and corporate Nigeria to support worthy initiatives by the Nigerian Association of Nephrology, NAN, in reducing cost or helping out with capacity development, equipment support and other means of providing succor.
“To address the burden and challenges in the management of kidney disease, several strategies must be followed at the same time, which include; increasing awareness and education. There is a need to raise awareness about kidney disease, its risk factors, and the importance of early detection and treatment. Education programs can be implemented to educate the public and healthcare professionals about kidney disease prevention and management.
“Efforts should be made to increase the number of nephrologists, hemodialysis centers, and kidney transplant centers in Nigeria. This would improve access to specialized care for patients with kidney disease.
“Early detection and diagnosis of kidney disease can help prevent or delay its progression. Screening programs can be implemented to identify individuals at risk and provide early intervention. In this instance, school health services should be re-invigorated to identify early cases in children. Same with pre-employment and insurance screening. A synergy could be worked out with relevant stakeholders and the National Employers’ Consultative Assembly (NECA).
“Emphasizing preventive measures such as controlling diabetes and hypertension, promoting a healthy lifestyle, and reducing exposure to risk factors can help reduce the burden of kidney disease.
“There is urgent need for legislative support in terms of a new bill to support affected persons. Lastly, organ trafficking is an emerging issue in our environment and I want to plead with agencies concerned to help in examining relevant laws especially, with regards to cadaveric donations taking cognizance of our peculiar cultural and societal idiosyncrasies and also laws guiding organs to be harvested from living donors.”
A Consultant Pathologist, Dr. Wale Ajala, has condemned ‘indiscriminate’ consumption of herbal alcoholic drinks among Nigerians, saying it increasingly leads to rise in kidney failure.
Ajala, who is the Chief Executive Officer of Help Diagnostics and Checkup Services, Lagos, said regulatory agencies must check the safety of herbal alcoholic drinks, especially those distributed in sachets, describing them as “concoctions.”
“Checking the influx and safety of those herbal alcoholic drinks has become imperative; otherwise, many Nigerian youths risk chronic kidney disease and end-stage renal disease, because they consume these products the more,” he said.
Ajala spoke during a medical outreach to over 2,000 Mushin, Lagos, residents, organised by the Bunmi and Ajibola Healthcare Foundation, a non-governmental organization, in collaboration with the Help Diagnostics and Checkup Services.
The residents were screened for malaria, hypertension, diabetes, and hepatitis B, while free drugs were offered to those who tested positive to any of the ailments.
Advising participants to be mindful of their lifestyle particularly what they consume, Ajala said, “It is horrible the way we are seeing the markers of kidney diseases these days. The youths are largely affected, based on what we are seeing.
“Kidney failure is increasing by the day in Nigeria and renal dialysis is so expensive.
“The increase is coming from indiscriminate consumption of alcoholic drinks, mixed with different herbs that are produced in various forms and sachets.
“Early in the morning, in different corners of the state, you see youths gather in groups to gulp those concoctions all in the name of getting high.
“Some of them consume the drinks more on weekends to generate strong erection.
“Some of the artisans who also consume those concoctions feel it will give them power.
“And, so far, I have not seen any benefit from their claim, except the destruction of their liver, kidneys and heart.”
He urged the government to check the manufacturing of those drinks and sanction erring companies.
The World Health Organisation warns that harmful use of alcohol kills more than three million people each year, most of them men.
Chairman of the foundation, Pastor Ajibola Olulola, said the NGO was established to bridge the gap in healthcare delivery in Nigeria through awareness creation on proper health seeking behaviour, free medical outreaches and provision of free drugs to sick, indigent Nigerians.
Project Coordinator, Olabisi Olubunmi-Fabulola, identified poverty and ignorance as factors fueling disease burden in Nigeria.
She noted, “Poverty, ignorance and wrong way of seeking medical treatment are killing many Nigerians.
“In fact, most of the sudden deaths that we are hearing about in the country today are as a result of undiagnosed ailments such as hypertension and diabetes, which are traceable to ignorance and poor health seeking behaviour on the part of the people.”
