A consultant physician at the College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Prof. Ifeoma Isabella Ulasi has called for regular nationwide screening to document the prevalence of non-communicable diseases in the country.
Ulasi, a nephrologist, said an effective screening project to cover all communities in Nigeria, similar to what obtains in countries like the USA, UK and Japan, would help check the rising cases of chronic kidney disease or CKD.
In a 145-page inaugural lecture titled “Kidney Solution: Nature or Nurture”, the medical practitioner submitted that a national policy framework carried out survey every five or ten years for the documentation of statistics on the epidemiology of non-communicable diseases, will go a long way in boosting government’s health reform plan.
She said Nigeria should have a national health bill, which must have renal care policy and transplantation act inculcated in it, stressing that awareness campaigns should be embarked upon by government or non-governmental agencies to educate the masses on the importance of screening and periodic medical checkup.
“Stakeholders at all levels, family heads, community leaders, local government, state and federal government should help to spread information on the dangers of the disease, since the world celebrates Kidney Day,” she said. “This platform can be used to our advantage.”
The scholar, who has been managing kidney patients at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital UNTH, Ituku-Ozalla, Enugu State since 1994, stressed that the campaign should target lifestyle factors that are within the individual’s control, as well as emphasize the importance of clean environment.
“Use of herbal medications, self-medication and consultation of non-qualified medical personnel should be discouraged, individuals should be encouraged to have routine medical check-up at times appropriate for their ages, the present practice where people come to hospital only when they are ill, obviously does not work for diseases like chronic kidney diseases, hypertension and cancer”, the 95th inaugural lecturer warned.
Ifeoma Ulasi, also suggested the establishment of well equipped primary health care units in every locality, adding that this was necessary to bring health care services nearer to the people.
She continued: “provision of basic amenities that foster primordial prevention of diseases, such as good sanitation, facilities that promote healthy living-gyms, etc, and thereby improve health determinants in the society should be given priority”.
While describing kidney diseases as a general term used for any disease condition involving the kidney that impairs in its function, the consultant physician explained that it could occur from a condition that affects the kidney primarily or from a condition that affects other parts of the body and secondarily affects the kidney, pointing out that it could also be acute, sub-acute or chronic, depending on its duration.
The renowned researcher also identified diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, cigarette smoking, obesity, high cholesterol, family history of kidney disease, being African-American, Native American or Asian-American as well as those up to the age of 65 and above, as some of the factors that might increase the risk of chronic kidney disease.
She also stated that prolonged anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) are also among the risk factors.
The vice chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Prof Chukwuma Ozumba, said that inaugural lecture was introduced in 1976 to encourage research and provide opportunity to the University professors to showcase their intellectual prowess.
The vice chancellor, who was represented on the occasion by the deputy vice chancellor, Enugu-Campus, Prof. Ifeoma Enemo, praised Prof. Ifeoma Ulasi, for organising screening recently for the University Community, including the secondary school, and described the gesture as visionary and worthy of emulation.
The event attracted the cream of the academia from within and outside the country, prominent among them were the chief medical director of Memfys hospital for Neurosurgery, Enugu, Prof. Sam Ohaegbulam, two former deputy vice chancellors of UNEC, Prof. Peter Ebigbo and Prof. Bede Ibe, former provost college of medicine Prof. Basden Onwubere and current provost, Prof. Ernest Onwasigwe and Prof. Uche Magafu, a former provost college of medicine, UNN.
Others were the dean of the faculty of medical sciences, Prof. Uche Nwagha, former deans of the faculty of health sciences and technology, Prof. Ngozi Onyemelukwe, and Prof. Obinna Onwujekwe, Dr. Uche Agu and Dr. Izuchukwu Okam both of the department of obstetrics and gynaecology, UNTH, Prof. Ifeoma Okoye, traditional rulers from Enugwu-Agidi and Nnewi in Anambra State and the clergy, as well as the former chairman of Nigeria medical association, NMA, Enugu State branch, Dr. Obinna Onodugo, who read the citation.
