High Cost Of Treatment And Poor Professional Practice Responsible For Death Of Nigerian Patients With Renal Dysfunction

The Managing Director of Dialysis World Nigeria (DWN Africa), Ugonabu H. S. has decried the high incidence of renal dysfunction in Nigeria. In an exclusive interview with HealthNewsNG, he said about 70 per cent Nigerians are suffering from various forms of renal dysfunction and many are dying as a result of their inability to afford the high cost of dialysis treatment and poor practice by healthcare professionals.

According to him, only rich Nigerians can afford the recommended 3 treatments per week thus leaving those that cannot afford the treatment at the mercy of donors, philanthropists, non-governmental organizations and agencies.

He condemned rich citizens that travel outside the country for dialysis which he said could be easily done at respected facilities in Nigeria.

"VIPs need not travel abroad for dialysis. There are few centres in Nigeria that have standard infrastructure but very few sound intellectuals with regards to nephrology," he said.

 He added that renal dysfunction is preventable and several measures can be taken to prevent renal problems.

"To a very large extent, renal problems preventable for those predisposing factors that can be prevented. For instance, not consuming herbal products indiscriminately, not abusing drugs like anti-malaria, analgesics, gentamycin etc., monitoring/controlling blood pressure and so on.

"[Other prevention measures include] regular blood pressure check, maintaining healthy life style, don't abuse drugs, monitor/control blood glucose, and carry out simple urinalysis if necessary," he said.

He added that early diagnosis can prolong a patient's lifespan.