From Uchenna Inya, Abakaliki
The Vice Chancellor of David Umahi Federal University Health Sciences (DUFUHS), Professor Jesse Uneke, has identified the prohibitive cost of healthcare services as the cause of the increase in chronic kidney disease in the country.
He said this was one of the reasons patients often present late or not at all to health facilities.
Uneke stated this at the newly established state-of-the-art Renal Centre during the official flag-off of the dialysis unit of the center.
He opined that chronic kidney disease was underrecognized and underdiagnosed.
According to him, patients with end-stage renal failure (ESRD) are thought to represent the tip of the iceberg of the entire burden of chronic kidney disease.
“This is more so in Nigeria, where patients often present late or not at all to health facilities for several reasons, which range from the prohibitive cost of healthcare services to the use of alternative treatments like traditional/native healers.
“The continuous worldwide increase of people with chronic kidney disease (CKD) means that research and shared knowledge into the causes and treatment are vital to delay the progression of chronic kidney disease and to improve treatments and the care given through research and training,” he stated.
He described the Renal Centre as a state-of-the-art Centre of Excellence for Renal Research, Training, and Patient Care.
“The Centre operates with a multidisciplinary team of experts specializing in conducting research and training on kidney-related issues and caring for people with kidney disease.
“Kidney disease is a chronic illness with four basic treatments: haemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, conservative management, and transplantation, which includes pre-emptive transplantation, living donor, and cadaveric transplantation.”
The Vice Chancellor said the Renal Centre will undertake community outreaches and enlightenment campaigns to raise awareness on kidney health and how to prevent kidney-related illnesses.