The Nation Newspaper

Tag: CKD

  • ‘Buyers of tokunbo vehicles won’t get number plates from FRSC’

    ‘Buyers of tokunbo vehicles won’t get number plates from FRSC’

    The National Automotive Council (NAC) has said smuggled vehicles will soon become unattractive because their buyers will not be able to obtain number plates from Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) and vehicle licences from state vehicles registration offices.

    NAC was reacting to reports on the looming crisis in the Auto sector, following worries by Freight Forwarders Association of Nigeria that the new National Automotive Industry Development would stem the inflow of used vehicles into Nigeria and deny them their main source of income when the workers are laid off.

    It listed the factors that would stem the inflow to include 150 per cent hike in tariff on used vehicles, smuggling and possible diversion of second-hand vehicles to neighbouring ports.

    Freight Forwarders Association also worried that Nigerians cannot afford new cars if produced locally, that tariff hike will and has already led to price hikes for existing stock of vehicles in Nigeria even before the policy takes effect and doubted the capacity of existing local automotive plants to meet demand.

     

    It advised that the Original Equipment Manufacturing OEM should invest in Nigeria first before requesting protection. Claiming to base this advice on the stance of former President of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo’s regime.

    A statement by Mr. Luqman Mamudu, NAC’s Director Policy and Planning, said the policy has an in-built program to pursue this course.

    He said, “Smuggled vehicles will sooner or later become unattractive because those who buy them will certainly no longer be able to obtain plate numbers from Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) nor Vehicle License from various state vehicle registration offices. The policy has an in-built program to pursue this course.

    “The policy program for vehicles assembly makes it extremely easy for new and existing entrants to set up shop. The objective is to quickly ramp up national output of new and affordable vehicles to meet demand in less than two years and significant employment will happen for all levels of Nigerians. With time, Nigeria will commence export by RORO. RORO is two ways; import and export. At the moment, our association simply rolls off. With sustained implementation of the policy, they will soon roll on because Nigeria will export vehicles eventually.”

    Also, the National Automotive Industry Development Plan (NAIDP) was well thought out with all the concerns raised in full focus. Investment in the automotive industry is capital intensive and most OEMs go to countries where investment environment is right and a country whose borders are as wide open (lowest tariff compared to economies with automotive agenda) to influx of Used heavily undervalued vehicles definitely is not one of its desired destinations.

    “If, as agreed by the group that NAIDP is desirable, something needed to be done in this respect. The tariff by the way is not 150 per cent. All used vehicles will be imported but valued as new ones and depreciated by 10 per cent annually for cars and 20 per cent annually for commercial vehicles. It is the residual value that is subject to 35 per cent duty and 35 per cent levy. Both new and used vehicles will continue to flow into Nigeria in form of SKD/CKD and who else will clear them if not members of the association? What has simply changed is the type of cargo. The local manufacturers will still import FBUs twice the number of SKD/CKD and all will be cleared by the association members.

    “The policy is simply designed to ensure that a larger proportion of automotive vehicle import is in the form of Semi Knocked Down (SKD) and Completely Knocked Down (CKD) form and duties are crashed to average of seven per cent for SKD and zero per cent for CKD to encourage this. The whole idea is to create jobs for Nigerians. New Fully Built Units (FBUs) at concessionary import duty rates by assemblers to bridge possible gaps in supply will continue in order to control possible price rise.”

    He added that on the issue of affordability, the policy makes provision for a Credit Purchase Scheme to be funded from sources including existing NAC fund, and levies charged on imports in order to offer Nigerians opportunity to buy new cars on credit at single digit interest rate for upward of forty eight months.

     

  • More Nigerians suffer from kidney failure

    About 20 per cent of Nigerians are said to be suffering from chronic kidney disease (CKD) and require dialysis or kidney transplant.

    Dr Manoj Gunber, a Professor of Nephrology and Transplantation, Institute of Kidney diseases and Research Centre, Ahmedabad, India, said in Lagos at an interactive forum/awareness creation event for stakeholders and doctors to mark the World Kidney Day that the disease is common among people in their middle age and above.

    CKD is caused by hypertension and diabetes, especially type 2 diabetes; cardiovascular complications, lifestyle habits such as smoking and taking alcohol also increase the risk of the disease, Gunber said.

    “To treat CKD is quite expensive and most people cannot afford it. This is why prevention of disease is key as the only available option to reduce the cost of therapy or treatment. This shows that a coordinated approach is needed to prevent the disease.

    “Many people have died of the disease even after the transplant due to inability to go for further treatment, stressing that people suffering from kidney failure should not be neglected or discriminated; they need the love and support of everybody.

    He said regular medical check-ups, most especially blood pressure and diabetes screening should be employed as a major preventive strategy against the disease. The cost of medical check-up is affordable compared with the cost of treating kidney diseases, he added.  He identified loss of appetite, insomnia, increase in the frequency of urination (especially at night) and swelling on the legs as some of the symptoms of chronic kidney disease.

    The don advised that people should have healthy diet, eat fruits and vegetables. “Also, eat moderately, don’t take more calories than needed and exercise regularly, maintain a healthy weight to prevent kidney disease.”

    “High blood pressure and diabetes are important risk factors for the development of chronic kidney disease if not diagnosed early and properly managed and a lot of people may not be aware of this fact”, said the Medical Director Pfizer NEAR, Dr Soroh Kodjo.

    Creating awareness on the importance of a healthy Kidney with key stakeholders on WKD is very key at this time to reduce the affliction of the disease.

    Over the years, Pfizer has contributed to reduction of Kidney ailments through the cardiovascular screenings.

    The Kidney Foundation Founder of the NGO, Dr Bose Peters, a survivor of kidney transplant, done in India, said the goal of the foundation is to support post transplant patients and procur their medication which can be very expensive. “Our ultimate goal is to build a kidney transplant in Nigeria.

    “This NGO is a foundation that seeks ways to curb the effect and issues pertaining to the disease and proffers platforms on medical discourse of the disease and its management.

    Communication and Public Affairs Director, Pfizer NEAR, Mrs Margaret Olele, said there is need for increased awareness and education on CKD so that it can be detected early or even be prevented, in order to avoid the pain and cost of kidney disease.

  • Rescued from brink of death

    Rescued from brink of death

    Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) afflicts the rich and the poor. It does not discriminate. A teacher and kidney patient, Mrs Olufunke Oladeji, relives her post-transplant experience. WALE ADEPOJU writes.

    The has virtually been to the grave and back. Many had written her off, thinking it was all over. But she held tenaciously to her belief that all will be well. Everything eventually turned out well for Mrs Olufunke Oladeji, 40, and her family. About two years ago, she was down with renal problem, following the impairment of one of her kidneys.

    She was placed on dialysis which she went for regularly, but the ultimate solution to her ailment was a transplant. There was a willing and ready donor: her husband, Akinwunmi. But there was a snag: cash. Again, luck smiled on her. The Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) wrote off her bill. The hospital did so because Mrs Oladeji is its first kidney transplant patient.

    LUTH waived all expenses for the surgery. History was made when on July 26, 2011, the surgery was successfully carried out. Mrs Oladeji, a teacher, has been recuperating well since then and she is grateful to the hospital and others that rallied to her support in her hour of need.

    Reliving her experience, she said the support from Itesiwaju Local Government Area of Oyo State, where her husband hails from, was the turning point for her.

    The local government made her a beneficiary of its free/subsidised drugs supply.

    The local government has been subsidising the cost of her drugs since the surgery. “If not for this gesture, it won’t be easy obtaining the drugs because of its high cost. Indeed, the governor is aware of my case, likewise the Chairman, Mr Adisa Adeniji.”

    Mrs Oladeji said the post-transplant period could be terrible because it is when more money is required. “Some patients may need between N200, 000 and N300, 000 monthly for the purchase of drugs and examination”,she said.

    This amount is huge and beyond the reach of the common man, she added.

    LUTH has been amazing too in helping us. “I was their first kidney transplant patient and they’ve given every support and always want to help,” she said.

    “The thought that I have them behind me is a kind of assurance and I am happy and I always pray for them.”

    Mrs Oladeji said coming down with a condition such as kidney failure is the worst thing that could ever happen to anyone.

    This, she said, could consume somebody’s life, because every process and procedure takes time and consumes finance.

    She said the government must help people who have kidney problems with funds the same way they support people living with HIV and AIDS because of the huge resources needed to manage the condition.

    “Mrs Oladeji said: After transplant, a patient needs about 22 different drugs within the first six months. The patient is required to take at least six different drugs at various times daily. Also, tests are run daily.

    “This is because there is an artificial organ that has been introduced into the body and it must not be infected.

    “The immune system of the patient is also low because of these drugs, which are to help the artificial organ or new kidney pick up fast. At that stage the patient can get infected easily. This is why the patient has to use the drugs but that has reduced now.

    “I used to take tacrolimus, a drug which costs about N48,000. It’s a pack of 50 tablets and I use four tablets daily. Before the dosage can be reviewed I must have a test carried out on me in South Africa for tacrolimus level.

    “I can’t even take water anyhow. I now take bottled water. Before I was discharged from the hospital, our home was inspected to ensure that it was conducive because I must not have any infection.”

    Mrs Oladeji said she used to go for check-up once a week but this has changed as she now visits the hospital once a month.

    On people living with kidney problem, she advised that their relatives should not write them off because they can live through it.

    “All they need is the support materially and spiritually,” she said.

    Her husband, Akinwunmi whose kidney matched hers, said he too has been going for check-up twice yearly.

    He said people were helpful and sympathetic but there was a limit to what they could do.

    Mr Oladeji said the condition should not be seen as a big man’s problem because nowadays it is common among the downtrodden.

  • Don’t let me die, says man with kidney problem

    Don’t let me die, says man with kidney problem

    All Emmanuel Odutola requires to live is N6 million. With the money he will undergo a kidney transplant in India. Will Nigerians bring the cost to save him? WALE ADEPOJU writes.

    When Emmanuel Odutola was born, he brought joy to his family, especially his mother, who is now late.

    But his story changed after tragedy struck him. Last December he was diagnosed of chronic kidney disease (CKD). His kidney has been badly damaged.

    Is this not too much for an orphan? He has been living on charity. His education was also on scholarship. But, would this situation lead to his end?

    The nephrologists attending to him say he has end stage renal disease (ESRD), which is the last stage of CKD. They said he can live through it, if he undergoes a kidney transplant as soon as possible.

    In his medical report, they explain one of his two kidneys had totally collapsed; the other is partially working.

    He needs N6million to have a kidney transplant but how can he raise such an amount. He doesn’t work; neither does his grandmother, Mrs Florence Balogun, who has been staying with friends when the house she rented at Ebute Metta was razed, by fire many years ago. This was why Emmanuel had to put up with friends, while on holidays.

    At the moment, Emmanuel is undergoing dialysis at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH).

    Each week he spends about #120,000 on dialysis and drugs. Three times a week he must be under the machine to flush out waste from his system. This is quite expensive.

    Mrs Balogun said the diagnosis which revealed that her grandson had ESRD was carried out at Regina Mundi Catholic Church, Mushin, before he was referred to LUTH.

    To sustain this, is a problem as he had to depend on friends and neighbours for help to have a course of dialysis to remove waste products from his system.

    He said a kidney transplant will remove the untold hardship once and for all.

    Odutola is an old student of St Theresa’s Minor Seminary, Oke Are, Ibadan, Oyo State.

    He has been shouldering the problem but his might is little. He wants people to help him so that he can have a kidney replacement surgery in India.

    His grandmother said Emmanuel was a normal young man until last December when trouble struck.

    She said doctors identified uncontrolled hypertension as the cause of his condition.

    Mrs Bashorun alleged that Emmanuel had been abandoned by his father’s relatives’ the Odutola’s in Ijebu Ode.

    According to her, the father, Sunday Odutola had died many years ago leavimg him with the mother, Mrs Kafayat Bashorun, to nurture, but she too like the father, died the day after Emmanuel finished his seminary school.

    Mr Odutola urged public spirited people, government and corporate organisations to help him.

    A Good Samaritan, Miranda Onyedum said Emmanuel’s family disowned him when he went to see his extended family in Ijebu Ode, adding that this had further made his health deteriorate more.

    Onyedum said she thought what Emmanuel had was an ailment that would be cured once and for all but was disappointed when the medical report showed ESRD.

    She said Emmanuel was staying with her aunt at Oshodi because her cousin was his classmate at the seminary. But on her visit to her aunt’s house last Christmas, she found that Emmanuel didn’t have a home.

    He was also sick with his legs swollen and there were also patches on his body. “So my aunt, Mrs Augustina Ezike gave him money to have a malaria test but none of the laboratories was opened as it was Christmas day. But at the church the situation became clearer,” she said.

    She said she arranged for some church members in Ijebu Ode to find his extended family but on seeing him, they rejected him. This was another source of worry for him and he withdrew within himself.

    Onyedum said he even lost his sight and was vomiting, but after treatment he regained his vision.

    She said he was a likeable young man but with bitterness in his heart because of his background and inability to reunite with his extended family.

    Onyedum said he wanted the family to know that their son was in her custody but they rejected him.

    She said it has been hard coping with Emmanuel, especially in emergency as she lives in Ajah.

    “I gave him a room in my house but my family is worried because of his safety. They said when something bad happens to him they might read all kinds of meaning to it. And the family which he has known all these years may come forward to cause trouble,” she said.

    She said: “All I want is to see Emmanuel okay again.”

    An account has been opened in his name: Emmanuel Odutola: GT Bank: 0018164155. He can also be reached on 08053283932.