South East breaking News
By Steve Unegbu
The Beatitudes Dialysis and Kidney Care Center Aba has launched the Executive Private Dialysis care with the intention of giving patients that need privacy such as the top Executives ,medical personnel and other patients that value privacy in the course of their medical care.
In his opening speech during the event at the Beatitudes Dialysis Center hall at St Paul’s hospital Aba , the chief Medical Director ,Dr Chimezie Okwuonu ,said the Kidney medical care center which started operation on the 14th of February 2019 with 2 Dialy machines and one patient was dialyzed on the first day ,has expanded today with a total of 7 Dialysis machines .
According to him , ” In 2019 we have a total of 748 hemodialysis sessions,this number increased in 2020 to 1218 ,we are in 2021 and we have close to 400 Kidney patients receiving hemodialysis .This brings the total number of session of Dialysis we have to 2350 in 2 of operation” he said.
Addressing his fellow professionals and the management staff of the center ,he revealed that , ‘” what we have today is an expansion of the facility ,during the course of treatment ,we noticed that some patients ,particularly the high class or executive patients are requesting for private Dialysis ,conventionally Dialysis is carried out in a big hall where at a site ,the Nurse sees all the machines at one glance and be able to handle any abnormality or alarming coming out on the machines and that is the only way you can ensure that one or two nurses manages 6 or 10 patients at the same time ”
Speaking further , he pointed out that ,” what we are having in our environments are situation some of the top executive that are having Kidney problems are travelling to Portharcourt and Owerri in order to access private Dialysis care and we have taking our own part of reducing Medical tourism out of Abia state to make sure that such patient obtain what we call holistic care within Abia state ,we are trying to improve the medical care not only in Abia but in Nigeria in the area of Kidney care to make sure that no matter the class of people that are affected by Kidney disease ,there are facilities to take care of them ”….
He stressed that , Beatitudes Dialysis and Kidney care center has started the executive Dialysis and can now provide private Dialysis with one machine for the patient and a nurse attached ,well air conditioned room ,private television , Reserved car parking space, free WIFA connection , free consultation and free PCV check for the patient comfort, adding that there are terms and conditions involved which include booking to avoid it coming as emergency ,the financial involvement amongst other things.
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Dr Okwuonu , who is an expert in Kidney care and treatment ,lamented the high cost of treatment of Kidney in Nigeria ,however expressed regret that in terms of Naira the average cost of Dialysis is about N30000 and for Kidney transplantation on the other hand average cost is N7.5 million ,saying treatment of Kidney disease is out of reach of common Nigerians .
The Abia state NMA chairman, further revealed that the prevalence of Kidney disease is on the increase in Nigeria, disclosing that it has been estimated that one out of every ten to fifteen adult has a marker of Kidney disease.
He however , called on all well meaning Nigerians to join hands to prevention approach of Kidney disease ,listing such approach to include ,avoidance of nephrotosins to the Kidney, such as herbal concoctions ,adequate treatment of hypertension ,good treatment of diabetes and adequate in take of medication for HIV. disease .
Speaking further , he expressed gratitude to God for His faithfulness in their commitment to providing excellent renal cure ,pointing out that , ” what we have in this place are 3 expanded ward spacing which we have utilized inside a premises belonging to St .Paul “s hospital ” In addition to hemodialysis, he noted ,”we treat patients that have other medical diseases ,we also admit patients in this facility and we have about 11 accommodation bed ward spacing for our patients'”
He noted that despite having had their own share of adverse effects ,since they commenced operation ,” We have also successfully prepared 3 patients for Kidney transplantation within 2 years of existence and those 3 patients have been successfully transplanted in Federal Medical Center Umuahia and we have 3 patients that are at waiting list in this center for their transplantation in FMC ” he said.
In his speech ,the chairman of the Abia state private doctors Association , Dr Ben Kuba ,described the event as a history making event ,adding that Beatitudes Dialysis and kidney care center has come to fill up an important gap in the health care services in the State ,while expressing happiness over the development saying ” that having these things here I am so happy is going to help our practice ”
He stated that , ” I have gone round the facility ,I am so impressed ,it is a world class facility here ”
He however ,called on government to assist the private hospitals and empower by provision of funds to help them in capacity building, pointed out that most of the hospitals the government officials run to in abroad are equally private hospitals which have been empowered by their government
.In her speech ,the immediate past Abia state Nma chairman and state consultant public health physician, Dr Ejiro Caro Iwuoha said that ‘” we are here to support our State chairman and medical Director of the Beatitudes Dialysis center on the expansion of the facility to provide executive care services ” while applauding his efforts and expressed gratitude to God that he has looked at this concern so that ”we can avoid medical tourism out of the city and Abia state”
She described the development as a positive one ,noting that people can now get the care they deserve just next to them adding that it will give them the opportunity to still do their activities and run their families without being far away .
She however , urged the members of staff of Beatitudes Dialysis center to give in their best to ensure the continues expansion and development of the care center .
In his speech , Dr Umenwa Joachin of Abia state teaching hospital ,congratulated the management of Beatitudes Dialysis center for the expansion ,noting that ” with what I am seeing today ,we have all that is required in Aba to treat and care for kidney disease .We are praying that this place to continue to expand.
Interacting with Newsmen,shortly after the event,a co -director of the Beatitudes Dialysis center Aba ,Dr Mrs Chimezie Oluchi Justina said ,” Today we decided to launch the Executive private wards ,because of the demand by some patients ,that need privacy “
She pointed out that the implication is that ,” We will give the patient quality and executive services here ,we will give you almost the same services you receive outside ,when you travel out ”
Speaking earlier before commissioning the Executive Private Dialysis unit, the Medical Director of Alpha Inland hospital ,Dr Kingsley Enweremadu ,applauded the management of Beatitudes Dialysis Center Aba for such a milestone ,stating that anything that does not expand is not worthy to exist and that with the expansion ,some other people are going to be employed.
He however ,urged the managing Director to be kind to patients and should a times carry out free Dialysis to help the less privileged patients, while expressing optimism that the center will solve any problem of kidney disease in Aba and Abia state .
