ABEOKUTA — Former President, Olusegun Obasanjo has called for urgent legislative bill to support people living with kidney diseases in the country.
Obasanjo added that relevant security agencies must assist in curbing emerging organ trafficking, especially cadaveric donations.
Obasanjo who spoke at the 36th Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference of the National Association of Nephrology with the theme: “Optimizing Dialysis Therapy To Prolong Survival”, holding at the main Auditorium of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital, commended the body for its work with regards to advocacy, screening, enlightenment and periodic collaborations with a view to reducing prevalence of the disease, especially among youth and children.
“This is the 30th meeting of the Nephrology Association of Nigeria and it is my delight to commend your Association for its work with regards to advocacy, screening, enlightenment and periodic collaborations with a view to reducing the prevalence of the disease among our people especially among youth and children.
“From available reports, 1 out of 7, that is, about 15% of adult Nigerians have kidney failure which cannot be reversed and is life-threatening if left untreated.
“I have also been informed that the prevalence of kidney failure in Africa is higher than anywhere else in the world as an average African is 4 times more likely to develop kidney problem than a Caucasian or Mediterranean race.
“Include hypertension, diabetes, kidney infections, genetic, habitual consumption of undefined herbal medications, and chronic analgesic abuse amongst a list of causes. The burden of chronic kidney disease is further exacerbated by the high prevalence of these risk factors. Late presentation is also a problem which further leads to increased morbidity and mortality.
“Many countries in the continent are undergoing rapid epidemiological transitions and are confronted with the double burden of communicable and non-communicable diseases, in part driven by the adoption of Western lifestyles and rapid urbanization”, Obasanjo said
The former President noted that treatment must start with prevention and healthy lifestyle, while, “in severe cases, apart from drugs, intervention by way of machine treatment (dialysis) or outright replacement (transplantation) are the way out.
“I wish to acknowledge the role of NHIS in providing limited support for only six dialysis sessions, but I want to suggest a need to consider increasing the carrying capacity substantially as obtains in South Africa and Sudan.”
