Two joint units of Nigerian health workers have advised Nigerians to imbibe the habit of regular medical checkups to guard against kidney problem.
The advice was given in Abuja during a medical screening at the GSM community, Wuse Zone 1 area to commemorate the World Kidney Day, annually celebrated on March 11 to raise awareness on renal health and diseases.
The three units are: the Nigerian Association of Nephrology (NAN), International Society of Nephrology (ISN) and the Medicine and Dialysis Unit, Wuse District Hospital (WDH) Abuja.
Dr Salihu Kwaifa, a Consultant Physician and Nephrology, said the three units were in the community to sensitise and educate the people about the need for regular checkups of their body against kidney diseases.
Kwaifa, the Head of Department, Medicine Dialysis, Wuse District Hospital (WDH) Abuja, said early detection was necessary to ensure treatment of kidney problem, hence the need for campaign to guard against the disease.
He said “kidney problem is not a death sentence; it can be treated if detected early and that is one of the essence of this outreach to sensitise the community.
“And for those who are suffering from the disease, we are here to tell them the basic things they need to observe; you can live a normal life if you observe all the protocols.
“This medical check-up is to ascertain if you have hypertension or diabetes because these two diseases are the chief causes of kidney diseases.”
Mrs Erdoo Haaga, the Chief Nursing Officer in charge of Dialysis Unit, WDH, took the people through a medical lecture on what to eat and what not to eat.
Haaga advised the people against too much alcohol intake, too much salt and sugar, too much fried foods, high protein foods to avoid kidney damage.
She also advised them to be wary of the kinds of food they ate, especially when hypertensive and to eat more vegetables and fruits.
Dr Chikaodinaka Ezeokeke, the Senior Medical Officer, WDH, Abuja, advised Nigerians to always stay healthy and to eat the right foods at the right time.
She urged people to always take three litres of water before the close of the day and to always carry out their HIV/AIDS checkups.
“Stay healthy, stay fit, eat right at the right time, take a lot of water, screen yourself for HIV/AIDS, stay safe and cool,’’ she stressed. (NAN)
