Specialists within the area of kidney illness therapy have known as for stricter rules on carbonated and alcoholic drinks to stem the rising instances of organ failure in Nigeria.
The consultants lamented that these drinks include excessive ranges of sugar and different chemical substances that may harm the kidneys over time, and urged the federal government to intervene and ban the manufacturing and sale of carbonated and alcoholic drinks regulate.
They made this name on Thursday throughout a gathering organized by the renal division of the Federal Medical Middle, Ebutte-Metta, in commemoration of World Kidney Day, with the theme 'Kidney well being for all'.
World Kidney Day is an annual world well being consciousness marketing campaign celebrated each second Thursday of March that goals to extend data about wholesome existence, threat elements and methods to handle kidney ailments.
On the assembly, the Head of the Dialysis Nurse Unit on the hospital, Monisola Ogunleye, advisable a ban on the sale of drinks with excessive sugar content material and stricter labeling necessities.
She additionally proposed a public schooling marketing campaign to lift consciousness in regards to the risks of kidney illness and its hyperlink to those drinks.
With out these measures, Ogunleye warned that the variety of folks with kidney harm is more likely to proceed to rise.
She added: “The federal government has loads to do to forestall an increase in kidney ailments within the nation. In the event you see tobacco, they may say that if you happen to use it, you’ll most likely die younger. The federal government ought to do one thing like this with all these carbonated drinks as a result of you will note younger folks and minors having kidney issues. And findings have proven that a few of these issues consequence from the consumption of alcoholic and carbonated drinks.
“The federal government ought to assist us earn more money accessible for public info and consciousness, so that individuals can develop into conscious of the hazard that sure issues pose.”
Ogunleye, nevertheless, suggested folks to drink extra water to assist protect the soul of the kidney.
Though the professional famous that dehydration kills the kidneys, he emphasised that when folks drink about two to a few liters of water a day, it helps their kidneys and prevents harm.
“We discovered that many individuals, each younger and previous, and even the age the place you wouldn't count on to have kidney issues, are affected by it nowadays. We all know that there’s a lot happening and that’s the reason we need to create consciousness so that individuals can take excellent care of their kidneys.
“Some folks don't assume it's necessary to drink sufficient water. Folks ought to make it an obligation to absorb sufficient water daily as a result of if sufficient urine is made, some substances that ought to not enter the physique can be flushed out by the urine.
“Persons are having carbonated drinks anyway, consuming anyway and all these sugary drinks are going to trigger diabetes and result in kidney issues. While you eat extra salt, it’ll in flip harm the kidneys. Folks must be cautious with alcohol consumption as it could harm the kidneys and liver. Indiscriminate use of some painkillers can taint and harm the drinks,” she famous.
On his half, a nephrologist on the hospital, Dr. Danladi Nmadu, lamented that the kidney is an organ that’s extremely uncared for.
Whereas expressing concern over the rising variety of sufferers with kidney failure, the physician mentioned lack of correct therapy of diabetes and instances of hypertension are contributing to the rising instances.
He warned Nigerians to cut back their salt and sugar consumption, stressing the significance of early detection and therapy.
Nmadu mentioned the hospital organized the assembly to sensitize the folks dwelling round Ebutte-Metta and likewise display screen them for kidney ailments.
“Right this moment we are attempting to lift consciousness about kidney care and issues folks ought to do to forestall kidney illness.
“We’re making a number of noise in regards to the kidneys, we’re going to display screen folks on the road and we’re going to test their urine and blood for kidney ailments.
“Our diets have gotten extra Western, growing the incidence of diabetes and hypertension. Furthermore, persons are higher educated and extra persons are conscious of those ailments. Since many individuals at the moment are visiting the hospital, there was a rise within the variety of instances of kidney ailments.
“Folks ought to attempt to scale back the quantity of salt and I encourage folks to drink sufficient water as a result of it is rather necessary for the kidneys,” he mentioned.
Based on the Nationwide Kidney Basis, continual kidney illness contains circumstances that harm the kidneys and scale back their capacity to maintain the person wholesome by filtering waste from the blood.
The World Well being Group's 2015 International Burden of Illness research estimated that 1.2 million folks died from kidney failure worldwide, a rise of 32 % since 2005.
Based on the World Well being Group, an estimated 2.3 to 7.1 million folks with end-stage renal illness died worldwide in 2010 with out entry to continual dialysis.
