Minister calls for urgent policy development to increase primary prevention of kidney diseases
Kidney
By Michael Ajayi/Augusta Uchediunor
Lagos, March 10, 2020 (NAN) The Minster of State for Health, Dr Olorunnimbe Mamora, says there is urgent need to develop policies to increase the primary prevention of kidney diseases.
Mamora made the assertion on Tuesday in Lagos at the “Renal Dialysis Centre Symposium A World Kidney Day Event’’ organised by the Renal Dialysis Centre, Ikeja.
He was represented by Prof. Adetokunbo Fabamwo, Chief Medical Director, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja.
The theme was: “Kidney Health for Everyone Everywhere from Prevention to Detection and Equitable Access to Care.’’
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that World Kidney Day is marked annually on the second Thursday in the month of March and for 2020, it is March 12.
It aims to raise awareness of the increasing burden of kidney diseases worldwide and to strive for kidney health for everyone, everywhere.
The theme for the 2020 campaign highlights the importance of preventive interventions to avert the onset and progression of kidney disease.
Mamora said: “Kidney Disease is a non-communicable disease affecting about 850 million people around the world with a prevalence of 10 per cent globally.
“Cost of treatment in developed countries is 2.3 per cent of the annual healthcare of budget, while in low income countries, most people with kidney failure do not even have access to dialysis and kidney transplantation.
“Chronic Kidney Diseases (CKDs) is associated with a high cost of management, else preventive measures to address the root causes, especially in the form of primary prevention are desirable.
“It is, therefore, an urgent need for policy development to increase access of primary prevention, that is, creating public enlightenment and dedication in order to change the increasing prevalence of chronic kidney disease.’’
According to him, awareness creation, health promotion and risk factors and capacity building for healthcare professionals are the current trends in CKDs programming.
The minister said that the term prevention could be approached at three levels: primary, secondary and tertiary.
“Primary prevention is the most important and it involves intervention before the health effects occur by preventing diseases from starting.
“It requires the modifications of some factors by promoting health in lifestyles exercise, low salt diet, regular hospital checkup included, blood pressure checks and screening for congenital anomalies.
“Secondary prevention comprises early diagnosis and prompt treatment of kidney disease.
“ This also entails monitoring blood pressure, blood glucose, salt level, protein diet and vegetarian diet.
“Tertiary prevention indicates the management of well-established kidney disease progression and emergence of more severe complications,’’ he said.
Mamora said that in patients with advanced chronic kidney disease, management of comorbidities such as rennumial and hypertension is very important.
He said that the Federal Government was making concerted efforts at reducing the burden and eventually eliminating kidney diseases from the Country Profile in furtherance of its Universal Healthcare Coverage agenda.
“The implementation of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BAHCPF) has commenced in earnest, as provided for in the National Health Act, 2014.
“One per cent of Federal Government’s revenue, together with grants from international donors and other sources are already being utilised for the treatment of women and children under-five, treatment of malaria and other childhood illnesses.
“As well as immunisation, antenatal care, family planning services and screening for non-communicable diseases, such as diabetes and hypertension, which are the major causative factors of chronic kidney disease,’’ he said.
Also, Prof. Babatunde Salako, the Chief Host and Chairman, Medical Board, Renal Dialysis Centre, called for establishment of one dialysis centre per local government in Nigeria.
“It is capable of adding value to what we already have.
“ Provide access to people who may have reversible renal failure, especially young people who have bright future and can be described as leaders of our country tomorrow.
“As a nephrologist, and also as the past President of Nigeria Association of Nephrology, I am aware of the challenges that our patient face, more importantly lack of access.
“People who have renal failure, especially those who have reversible renal failure, and they don’t have access to dialysis die just because they don’t have access.
“We can understand those who have CKDs, they need to spend a lot of money, probably go on to have transplantation, and it is like putting money into a bottomless pit.’’
Salako, who is also the Director-General, Nigerian Institute for Medical research (NIMR), Yaba, said that the economic effects of CKD were enormous.
Contributing, Dr John Okoh, Chief Executive Officer, Renal Dialysis Centre, Ikeja, told NAN that the menace of kidney disease affects people and takes huge toll on their social and economic lives.
“We need to tackle it head on; the government has to reduce tariffs and duties on some of these medical products.
“There is need for increased funding for dialysis as well as transplants; we have to ensure local production of some of the reagents we also have to ensure that insurance participates more,’’ he said.
Okoh advised people to always go for regular medical checkups for early detection of symptoms and easy management of CKDs. (NAN)
MA/ANU/VIV/GOK
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Edited by Vivian Ihechu/Olagoke Olatoye