20m Nigerians Live With Kidney Diseases – Expert

A renowned Kidney Disease expert, Professor Pedro Emem Chioma, says over 20 million Nigerians live with kidney diseases.
Noting that the figure cuts across both adult and teenage populations in the country, he said over 850 million persons suffers from the disease globally with the ratio of 11 to 13 percent in adult population.
Prof Chioma, who works with Renal Unit, Dept of Internal Medicine, University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH), attributed the risk factors to Hypertension, Diabetes, infection, abuse of drugs and unusual life styles.
He spoke to newsmen at the UPTH during the 2023 World Kidney Day celebration with the theme, “Kidney Health for All, Preparing for the Unexpected, Supporting the Vulnerable”.
Chioma, who doubles as a lecturer in the Faculty of Clinical Science College, Uniport, noted that the disease would keep increasing due to uncontrollable life styles, high intake of salt, consumption of herbal medicines, etc. among Nigerians.
Describing UPTH as one of the major centres for the treatment and management of kidney diseases, he admonished youths to embrace health education as panacea to curbing the disease.
Kidney, he said, “is key to human existence, as it regulates the body system, water levels and takes away waste from the body”.
On the management of the disease, Prof Chioma advised Nigerians to desist from high intake of salts, use of herbal medications, check blood sugar levels and embrace periodic health education.
He outlined some of the challenges the hospital face in managing the disease as manpower, cost of care of patient and the need for constant power supply to the hospital.

By: Chinedu Wosu