By: AHMED KAGANA AMSHI, Damaturu
The Kidney Disease Awareness and Control Initiative, Yobe State Branch, joined hands with sister organizations worldwide yesterday, to mark the 2024 Kidney World Sensitization and Awareness Day.
The event is aimed at enhancing the management of kidney diseases effectively and making positive impact.
The celebration took place through a virtual Zoom meeting, gathering community healthcare professionals, academicians, community members, journalists, and Social Media influencers.
The discussions centered on preventive and curative measures for optimal kidney disease management.
Themed, “Kidney Health for All: Advancing Equitable Access to Care and Optimal Medication,” the Zoom meeting featured three insightful presentations by distinguished healthcare practitioners.
Chief Medical Director of Yobe State University Teaching Hospital, Dr. Baba Waru Goni, highlighted the Yobe State Government’s initiatives in supporting kidney disease patients.
Dean of the School of Management Sciences at Federal Polytechnic Damaturu, Dr. Lawan Cheri, shed light on the socio-economic impacts of kidney disease in Yobe.
Manager of the Dialysis Unit at Yobe State University Teaching Hospital Damaturu, Nurse Aliyu AbdulKadir, discussed, “Hemodialysis: Bridging the Gap between Myth and Reality.”
Dr. Baba Waru Goni emphasized the importance of regular health check-ups and adherence to prescribed medications for maintaining wellness.
He also mentioned ongoing collaborative efforts with international medical professionals and research institutions to enhance prevention and treatment methods for kidney diseases in the state.
He said the Yobe State Government is actively planning a population-based survey research project focusing on Chronic Kidney Disease of Unknown Origin (CKDU) prevalent in northern areas of the state like Gashu’a, Jakusko, Karasuwa, Nguru, and the River Yobe-Kumadugu-Hadija-Basin regions.
“The government is committed to implementing sustainable solutions for the prevention and treatment of kidney diseases”. He assured.
Dr. Baba Waru acknowledged the contributions of various individuals and organizations, including Prof. Maimuna Waziri from Federal University Gashu’a, and emphasized the importance of collaborative efforts in addressing the challenges posed by kidney diseases.
In conclusion, the session moderator, Pharm (Dr.) Salamatu Ahmad Amshi, and her team praised the participants and resource persons for their valuable insights.
They urged the state government to provide palliative support to kidney disease patients, including means of transportation for routine check-ups to kidney patients and accommodations at the facility, to alleviate their financial burdens during medical treatment.
