South East breaking News
Abia state NMA Urges Government To Assist In Kidney Care
The Nigerian medical Association has appealed to local government Authorities to equip the primary health centers in the state with capacity to do routine blood pressure check and analysis of urine at every patient visit ,as well as the state government to do more at general and specialist hospital by equipping them to do kidney function tests for all patients at affordable cost,urging that patients found with kidney diseases should be referred to kidney specialist at most specialist hospitals ,Federal medical centers or teaching hospitals for further care
The chairman Nigerian medical Association Abia state chapter ,Dr Chimezie Godswill Okwuonu , who made this disclosure during the occasion of the 2021 World kidney Day held at Secretariat complex of NMA Abia state, FMC Umuahia ,said these centers need to be equipped with necessary facilities and manpower to take care of such patients .
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He called on Federal government to make every effort to subsidize at least two session of dialysis per week to enable the individual live well with kidney disease,saying this can also be extended to the National Health Insurance scheme by ensuring inclusion of end-stage renal disease into the NHIS program and ensuring that more citizens are covered.
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According to him ,’The prevailing poor economy of Nigerian and covid-19 pandemic are fuelling the recent jump in prevalence of kidney disease in Nigeria as most patients are unable to buy medications for hypertension and diabetes , the two big causes of kidney disease in Abia state,adding that with six dialysis centers and a kidney transplant activity , Abia state has all it takes to handle kidney disease basically even as he reminded Abians that their health and safety is of concern to the NMA Abia and that NMA Abia shall soon commence a legislative process of passing an anti- quackery bill , which shall make Abia state unsafe for quacks and promote good medical practice in Abia.
He lamented the prevailing high rate of kidney disease ,revealing that one out of every ten adults in Abia state has a marker of kidney disease , while noting that causes of kidney disease such as hypertension diabetes HIV infection and herbal concoctions are very much with us
He further pointed out that the young age group are getting more involved daily. adding that treatment is out of reach of an average Nigerian and most people die because of financial constraints to care.
Dr Okwuonu however described World kidney Day as a day set aside by the world Health Organization each year to talk about the importance of kidney health, saying that NMA Abia in collaboration with the Nigerian Association of Nephrology are marking this year world kidney Day with theme : Living Well With Kidney Disease and congratulate the kidney transplant team ,staff and management of FMC Umuahia for a successful 10th kidney transplantation ,saying that the consistency and tenacity with which the hospital executes this program is welcoming, adding that ” This is the first center in South East Nigeria and remains the only center with regular transplant activity in South East and South South Nigeria.
The chairman Nigerian medical Association Abia state chapter ,Dr Chimezie Godswill Okwuonu , who made this disclosure during the occasion of the 2021 World kidney Day held at Secretariat complex of NMA Abia state, FMC Umuahia ,said these centers need to be equipped with necessary facilities and manpower to take care of such patients .
[
He called on Federal government to make every effort to subsidize at least two session of dialysis per week to enable the individual live well with kidney disease,saying this can also be extended to the National Health Insurance scheme by ensuring inclusion of end-stage renal disease into the NHIS program and ensuring that more citizens are covered.
[
According to him ,’The prevailing poor economy of Nigerian and covid-19 pandemic are fuelling the recent jump in prevalence of kidney disease in Nigeria as most patients are unable to buy medications for hypertension and diabetes , the two big causes of kidney disease in Abia state,adding that with six dialysis centers and a kidney transplant activity , Abia state has all it takes to handle kidney disease basically even as he reminded Abians that their health and safety is of concern to the NMA Abia and that NMA Abia shall soon commence a legislative process of passing an anti- quackery bill , which shall make Abia state unsafe for quacks and promote good medical practice in Abia.
He lamented the prevailing high rate of kidney disease ,revealing that one out of every ten adults in Abia state has a marker of kidney disease , while noting that causes of kidney disease such as hypertension diabetes HIV infection and herbal concoctions are very much with us
He further pointed out that the young age group are getting more involved daily. adding that treatment is out of reach of an average Nigerian and most people die because of financial constraints to care.
Dr Okwuonu however described World kidney Day as a day set aside by the world Health Organization each year to talk about the importance of kidney health, saying that NMA Abia in collaboration with the Nigerian Association of Nephrology are marking this year world kidney Day with theme : Living Well With Kidney Disease and congratulate the kidney transplant team ,staff and management of FMC Umuahia for a successful 10th kidney transplantation ,saying that the consistency and tenacity with which the hospital executes this program is welcoming, adding that ” This is the first center in South East Nigeria and remains the only center with regular transplant activity in South East and South South Nigeria.