As the world marks world kidney day, a consultant, physician and a Nephrologist, Dr. Ngoka Stanley has warned people against doing things that could affect the kidney and possibly lead to kidney failure.
He stated this during an event to mark the world kidney day celebration held at Federal Medical Center Owerri. Ngoka, disclosed that the kidney plays a huge role in how other organs functions. He said “the kidney is a body filter, it removes waste, it ensures blood pressure and blood level remain normal, it makes the bone strong through Vitamin E metabolism amongst other functions”
He stressed that people should increase their water intake, reduce much alcohol, reduce salt intake, minimize spicy food, eating of oily foods and check their blood pressure and sugar level regularly.
He enumerated the causes of kidney failure such as hypertension, diabetes, prostrate diseases, fibroid in women, abuse of medicine especially herbal medicine that contains toxins and high level of cholesterol. He also revealed that there could be inherited causes like people born premature.
He maintained that people should present themselves for check-up early, noting that that kidney failure is not a death sentence and can be managed if detected early.
He stated that people with renal disease should do regular dialysis or kidney transplant and become normal again, saying that a transplanted kidney can stay up to 10- 15 yrs.
He however decried non-availability of funds for people who can’t afford the cost, and called on the government and humanitarian organizations to support those affected to get the needed treatments.
He also urged people to access the National Health Insurance Scheme as it takes care of 4-6 dialysis as he lamented that lots of persons have lost their lives as they could not afford cost of dialysis.
