As part of events lined up to mark World Kidney Day, Kidney Consultants International (KCI), a not-for-profit organization, in conjunction with Leadway Assurance, National Orientation Agency, Abeokuta and Ogun State Ministry of Health, commenced on a long walk through the city of Abeokuta to draw attention to the plight of people living with renal problems.
The walk, which started at 10.30 am on 14th March, 2013, also had in attendance representatives of Federal Road Safety Corps, Abeokuta, Nigerian Police, Super Foods Abeokuta, Rotary Club, Nigerian Association of Nephrology and Pathcare Nigeria, a Lagos-based diagnostic laboratory, as well as members of National Youth Service Corps.
According to Mr. Adebayo Sokunbi, operations director of KCI, the purpose of the day is to educate the public about kidney disease and to call attention of health authorities, all over the world,to the rising burden of the disease and the need to make policies to reduce the incidence.
During the walk, fliers were distributed which contained educative/preventive information on kidney disease made for the occasion by the National Orientation Agency,Ogun State branch. There was a brief stop-over at the Olubara of Ibara’s palace, along the Omida axis, to pay homage.
After the walk, which lasted for about 1 hour 30 minutes, the participants were all seated at the garden of the Abeokuta sports club for the educative/preventive health talk on kidney disease and free screening that followed.
This segment of the World Kidney Day activities was flagged off by the operations director of the Kidney Consultants International, Mr. Adebayo Sokunbi, who gave a welcome address.
During his keynote address,Ogun State commissioner for health encouraged guests on healthy living and the need for use of drugs, based on prescription.
The lecture for the day on the theme:Kidneys for life stop acute kidney injury was taken by Dr. Osagie Otasowie, medical officer at the Kidney Clinics, Abeokuta Dialysis Centre. He spoke broadly on the human kidney, its functions, problems, treatment and prevention, as well as the health and financial burden on the patient, relatives and the society at large.
Bringing home the point, in relation to the theme, he emphasised that acute kidney injury is treatable and,in fact, reversible when detected on time and medical attention is sought. He therefore advised the audience on the need for regular medical checkups, healthy living and most importantly, to seek medical help as soon as symptoms are noticed.
After the lecture, one of the chronic kidney patients, a 22-year-old, who is currently having his dialysis sessions at the Abeokuta dialysis centre, relived his experience to a bewildered audience.
This was followed by a free screening by a team of Pathcare Nigeria and Abeokuta dialysis officials. The tests conducted include urinalysis and random blood sugar, as well as measurement of blood pressure and body mass index.
A total number of 68 persons were screened and those with abnormal values were seen instantly by the doctor for referral.
