By Elizabeth ADENUGA
The Nigeria Association of Nephrologist, Federal Teaching Hospital (FEITHA), in Abakaliki has called on citizens to adopt a healthy lifestyle to prevent the increasing burden of kidney diseases.
The Unit Head of the association, Dr Nwobodo Ume said that the association aim to help be avoid developing of kidney diseases.
Ume made the call during a free screening and awareness exercise at Abakaliki Rice Mill Owners Industrial Company on Thursday.
The World Kidney Day is marked on March 14 annually to raise awareness on how to keep the kidneys healthy and its importance to human body.
The theme for 2019 is “Kidney Health for Everyone, Every where”.
Ume, who is also a Consultant Physician and a Nephrologist at the FEITHA, disclosed that blood sugar and blood pressure are major causes of kidney disease all over the world.
“In addition to those two causes mentioned, infection is also a leading cause of kidney diseases in our own environment, ranging from bacteria infection, malaria among others.
“The essence of this awareness and free screening is to avoid getting to the level where the symptoms will be able difficult to manage,” Ume noted.
He further advised people to stay away from alcohol consumption, smoking, avoid food with high cholesterol, avoid excessive carbohydrate food and sugar among others to prevent kidney diseases.
Dr Olaronre Afolabi, another Consultant Physician and Nephrologist, emphasised that one the day there would be solution to prevent kidney diseases.
Afolabi encouraged regular checkup of blood pressure and sugar level “even when people feel they are healthy’’.
She also encouraged healthy lifestyle to include adequate intake of water, tobacco control, exercise, healthy diets, avoid herbal medications without prescription.
Others this to avoid are bleaching creams, which may eventually damage the kidney and taking drugs without proper prescription from a doctor.
She said that they had visited and conducted free screening in communities in the state, especially in markets, adding that the turnout was impressive.
“Our emphasis should be on the solution to prevent kidney disease by adjusting our lifestyles.
“Avoid visiting chemist and collecting drugs because it may end up damaging vital organs in the body including the kidney.
“Hospitals are the proper place for any possible treatment,” Afolabi said.
TBI Africa said that the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the association hosted a free kidney screening and awareness drive for the day.
