Government Plans kidney Infection Test For Children
 

The Nigerian Government has indicated its intention to put in place a scheme, which will help to test children for the kidney ailments and detect early infection.

The decision according to the Health Minister, Professor Adenike Grange, was also informed by the practically unaffordable cost of dialysis and the high level of unawareness of kidney related illnesses.

Grange stated this in Abuja on the occasion of the World Kidney Day. She also identified late detection of kidney infection and high cost of treatment as major contributory factors to the rising cases of kidney problems in the country.

 She was quoted as saying that "Kidney related illnesses are increasing and that is alarming to the government. As part of the steps to checkmate the illness, government may consider insisting that kidney tests are done on infants, because kidney problems manifest at the early stage in life.”

Professor Grange continued “sometimes, it manifests in fever form and is treated as such, but it could actually be kidney related illness. But what the ministry is thinking is that children would now be tested through their urine how well their kidneys are doing. At that stage is will be easier for doctors to start the treatment right on time before it escalates at later stage in life."

The health minister said the celebration of the World Kidney Day, which had "Amazing Kidneys" as theme was to raise awareness on the need to prevent, control, early diagnosis and management of kidney disease.  

Statistics

Available data from the World Health Organisation (WHO) show that more than 500 million persons worldwide have chronic kidney disease of which 10 per cent are adult and every year millions die prematurely of cardiovascular diseases complications linked to chronic kidney disease.

Globally, over 1.5 million people are currently kept alive through renal replacement therapy that is either dialysis or kidney transplantation and this number is forecasted to double in the next 10 years if urgent steps are not taken to redress the situation.

Costs

The cost of embarking on dialysis is posing a worry to the government, according to Grange, who maintained that at N25, 000 per session with patients likely to undergo four sessions in a year, the economic burden is undoubtedly overbearing on the developing countries of the world.

Grange stated further. "the minimum cost of dialysis in Nigeria is N25, 000 per session and if the patient would need a minimum of four sessions a year this would amount to N100, 000.”

To her, “this economic burden is enormous and not favourable for developing countries like ours. More than 80 per cent of individuals receiving renal replacement therapy live in the developed world because these services in the developing countries are largely unaffordable."  

The minister added that more specialist units like the dialysis and kidney transplantation units are being created in order to prevent or reduce death and in turn improve the quality of lives of patients with the indications of renal replacement therapy.

She advised Nigerians to have their kidney checked at least once a year and to cultivate the habit of drinking at least 3.5 litres of water daily to prevent kidney infection.

 

 

 NP/Qasim