PS: This write up was started about 2 months ago, delayed due to circumstances beyond my control (in Nigerian parlance) but revived due to my further experience; by fate design in the Nephrology unit-the medical speciality that deals with Kidney-related health problems.
As far as my memory can carry me, I first heard about Kidney failure in 1996 thereabouts when the case of one Augustine Adoroh was broadcast on our local television in Ibadan (BCOS that is). There was a clarion call to come to the aid of this young man in his 20s (or 30s, I can’t precisely remember).
His problem;his kidneys were said to be damaged, he has since been washing his blood to remove wastes through a machine (what I later grew to know is called dialysis). The ultimate solution to this his medical problem was a Kidney transplant where a donor (usually a relative) would donate one of his/her functional kidneys. It was an amazing revelation to me then that one could cope with just one kidney.
The mother had volunteered to donate the kidney but they needed huge funds to refer him abroad for the transplant. The ‘blood washing’ also costs him a fortune,something he had to do on a regular basis.
Trust you would wish to know where he is now and perhaps how he is doing? Well, quite sadly his death was announced a few weeks later, after the required amount had been completed but the pre requisite tests and procedures were still being carried out here in the country when he gave up the ghost.
I felt very bad and sad, I cried for the life of the young man cut short. I sobbed for the mother who would have to watch her son being lowered down the grave despite having volunteered one of her kidneys.
As a medical student in the University College Hospital, UCH, Ibadan, I heard about the first Kidney Transplant in UCH. It was meant to be a ‘coded’ attempt more because the first recepient was a quite popular man. I heard a few more information that I would not be sharing on this platform as they were only privileged information.*puffs chest*
Yes, I was quite close to some of my lecturers and consultants (on a number of grounds).
I felt glad, I saw a ray of hope for patients with chronic kidney disease, I saw a better chance of survival especially for the young people who battle with this critical clinical condition.
Another sad event on this kidney-related issue was when I sighted a friend in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the hospital. He looked lifeless, rather unconscious. Fola had been more than a friend; a medical school colleague and in fact, he was a Secondary School classmate with whom I jostle for prizes, he had always got more than me and alas, yet again, he got the ultimate prize before me-Death!
Yes, a few hours after I spotted him in ICU,news of his death filled my BlackBerry Messenger, at such a tender age of 25.
I had seen him weeks earlier while he was being prepared for the Kidney transplant as donated by his Sister. The surgery was said to have been successful but how events took a twist remained a mystery which I am sincerely not willing to dissect here.
As a House Officer, I have had to manage quite a number of patients with Chronic Kidney Disease. Disturbing however is it that most of these cases would be of young people between ages 19 and 32, and I mean those figures the way they are.
Common causes of kidney diseases/failure have been listed as hypertension,Diabetes mellitus,Genetic,infection(including HIV),drug abuse,alcohol usage(including alcohol-based mixtures),kidney stones,heavy blood loss,to mention a few.
It must however be noted that majority of these causes can be avoided, while others can be promptly managed if detected early.
The question unfortunately is how many young people present themselves for testing? How many of us go for regular medical check ups? How many of us promptly treat ourselves when we are sick or merely short of good health? How many of us are aware of all these risk factors? How many of us who are aware avoid all these risk factors?
Those are posers for us all to reflect upon and amend our ways.
Let us all take our life very seriously and stop deceiving ourselves that life begin at forty when we actually see people around us ending their lives before the said forty years. Or well,may be it means they never lived.
A healthy life starts with you and me.
Those bean-shaped organs are to be treasured and nurtured,protect them from unnecessary pressure.
Hamid Adediran is Medical Doctor+Broadcaster=Medicaster, follow @hamid_doctalk on twitter
Very enlightening piece.
Many Nigerians hardly ever think of visiting a hospital unless there’s a threatening illness or to ‘greet’ someone who has been admitted into hospital.
The situation is bad and I’m sure there will be several excuses, though not so justifiable.
From a concerned perspective, what does it take to get a complete medical check up? Heart, Kidneys and all?
How much are we looking at, with respect to cost from minimum to maximum?
Can these tests be done in any medical laboratory or does one have to go to the general or teaching hospitals?
I think more enlightenment has to be done on how easy or (cheap) it is.
Thumbs up for this.