Nation
Rising Cases Of Kidney Disorders Worry Expert
A Consultant Nephrologist at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Edo State, Dr Ojeh Oziegbe Odije, has expressed worry over the rising cases of kidney failure in Nigeria.
He pointed out that the factors aggravating the disorders are also on the rise.
In an interview with journalists at the hospital in Benin City, Odije said the ailment was not just wrecking havoc in the state alone but across Nigeria as a whole.
He said, “The last population studies we did in a village not far away from here showed that close to one third of the public are beginning to have problems with their kidney and that’s a terrible figure.
“I have been more or less with this kidney unit since it started around 1999, and at that particular time, we probably diagnose three or four patients a day.
“But what we have now is that in UBTH at times, we diagnose as many as 10 to13 a day. In addition, there are about four dialysis centres in Benin that equally operate at full capacity.
“We used to be able to provide all the services that the town requires but now, we are beginning to find out that there are five dialysis centres working at full capacity as the number of patients we are having is on the increase,” he explained.
On why the number of cases was increasing, he noted, “Hypertension, diabetes, other unresolved infections are on the rise; things that weren’t there some years back, are on the rise.
“A lot of people are now becoming hypertensive at a younger age and that causes close to half of the number of kidney diseases that we have.
“Use of drugs is on the rise especially the ‘feel good’ drugs. In Nigeria, there’s this habit that is very common, when they finish working in the evenings they come home and tell the chemist to give them a mixture of five to seven drugs and then those people will be putting ibuprofen, diclofenac, aspirin and they pack all those drugs for them.
“They take those and they feel happy because they feel stronger. But it causes a cumulative damage on the system.
“Our Western lifestyle is also making diabetes to increase. Now, sugar is so much part of our diet, minerals and all those things that contain a lot of sugar or sweet things encourage diabetes to increase and that causes kidney damage”, Odije itemized.
He disclosed that UBTH was now installing more equipment and also training more nephrologists.
“Management takes pain to ensure that our dialysis machines are up to date and are new. In fact, now what we are waiting for is more space to install the dialysis machines that management had already procured.
“We have biomedical engineers posted in the unit. The engineers are specifically employed for renal unit and they are there to fix the machines,” he explained.
The Movement for the Survival of the Izon Ethnic Nationality in the Niger Delta (MOSIEND) has called on the Management of Niger Delta Development Commission NDDC to embark on the water projects in Buguma city in Asari Toru Local Government Area, Rivers state
The Group called on the Rivers state government to revamp the Buguma fish farm to create employment for the teeming youths
On the water project in Buguma, MOSIEND said the population of Buguma has increased tremendously as the residents need more water projects to enhance the daily livelihood of the people
The Group also appealed to the Chairman of the council to assist in making the project a reality and attracts more developmental projects to the city
This call was on Rhythm 93.7 FM Port Harcourt, Radio program, Talk of the Town, by MOSIEND Eastern Zonal Coordinator of MOSIEND Half Hour Comrade Tammy Bruce Longjohn alongside Mark Ojuka,Chairman of Buguma and Hon Sandra Owunari JP Chairman Obuama and monitored by our correspondent
Comrade Ojuka also called on the Management of Liquidifed Natural Gas NLG to embark on a free medical outreach in all Kala bari communities to improve their health status
He appealed to LNG to award scholarship to indigens of Kalabari communities in tertiary institutions to better their education, noting the company is doing same in Bonny, abandoning Kalabari communities
“We need contracts, free medical, scholarships and employment including skill acquisition programs for our teeming youths in Kalabari extractions ”
On Security, Mark Ojuka said security in Buguma is at zero level with the help of the Ama Ma soldiers the city is more peaceful and investors friendly as the youths of area have cordial relationship with the security agencies in the area
“Security is very secured in Buguma clan”
He called on the Rivers state to revamp the Buguma fish farm to create employment for the teeming youths
“The youths are asking for human capacity building in the area to reduce unemployment”
“The revamping of the Buguma fish farm will also reduce youth violence”
Also Speaking, Eastern Zonal Coordinator of MOSIEND Half Hour Comrade Tammy Bruce Longjohn called for more improve in infrastructures in Kalabari community, especially in electricity
There is little improvement in terms of electricity in Buguma city
He decried the deplorable condition
of Buguma Health Centre, saying that the hospital is near functional
“Our sisters that are pregnant and our sick parents can not access the health centre for a better treatment ”
Describing the Health Centre as an eye saw, he called on Rivers state government and Buguma Local Government chairman Hon William to improve on facilities in the centre and make it more medically accessible to the sick persons in the area
Buguma, Tammy Bruce said is the spiritual headquarter of Kalabari people as such deserve more modern facilities from the government to improve lives
The Coordinator called on government, stakeholders and oil companies to assist and improve the poor infrastructural facilities in area
“We need first class hospitals, qualified medical doctors and nurses in the health centres and hospitals”
On the oil spilled in Obuoma Chairman MOSIEND Obuoma, Hon Sandra Owunari said the spill destroyed their crops and Rivers even polluted their only source of drinking water
She expressed displeasure that Rivers state government did not send any relief materials to the people in the affected community
On Chieftaincy title to women in Obuama, Hon Sandra Owunari said the community do not install Chieftaincy title to women, saying that Chieftaincy title is only reserved for men only in the community
CHINEDU WOSU
-
Sports5 days agoFOOTBALL FANS FIESTA IN PH IS TO PROMOTE PEACE, UNITY – Oputa
-
Politics3 days agoWhy Reno Omokri Should Be Dropped From Ambassadorial List – Arabambi
-
Sports2 days agoNigeria, Egypt friendly Hold Dec 16
-
Politics2 days agoPDP Vows Legal Action Against Rivers Lawmakers Over Defection
-
Oil & Energy2 days agoNCDMB Unveils $100m Equity Investment Scheme, Says Nigerian Content Hits 61% In 2025 ………As Board Plans Technology Challenge, Research and Development Fair In 2026
-
Sports2 days agoNSC hails S’Eagles Captain Troost-Ekong
-
Politics2 days agoRIVERS PEOPLE REACT AS 17 PDP STATE LAWMAKERS MOVE TO APC
-
Sports2 days agoMakinde becomes Nigeria’s youngest Karate black belt