18th January, 2011
The rate at which kidney and heart-related problems are ravaging Nigerians is becoming alarming and government needs to do something quick about it. Right now, a visit to our hospitals reveal that many patients are suffering from kidney problems and are on dialysis. Most of them cannot afford this expensive medical procedure for urination and require the assistance of government.
Five years ago, the heart wrenching story of a 29-year old Nigerian woman with a heart disease who was denied heart transplant in a London hospital simply because her visa to stay in the country had expired made the headlines and stirred our souls. Those of us who read the story then lamented the state of our hospitals and concluded that had our leaders been up and doing, Ese Elizabeth Alabi would not have died in a foreign land.
Alabi was admitted to the hospital after becoming critically ill following heart failure. But doctors ruled she was not a priority patient as her visa had expired. Ms. Alabi took her battle for the operation to the High Court where her lawyers argued she was a victim of an “unjustifiable and disproportionateâ€Â government policy to deter “health tourismâ€.
But time ran out for the 29- year-old, who was believed to have fallen ill after giving birth to twin boys, and she died at Papworth Hospital.
During the legal battle to get Ms. Alabi treated, lawyers revealed that Papworth doctors considered her to be “clinically appropriate†for a transplant, but could not put her on the “urgent†list because of government regulations about the treatment of non-EU citizens.
It is sad that 50 years after independence, our leaders have not deemed it important to establish a health facility to treat heart-related and kidney problems in the country and patients have to be flown to India and other countries overseas for treatment.
Kudos must, however, be given to some public-spirited individuals like ace footballer, Nkwanko Kanu who has been flying children suffering from heart diseases abroad for treatment. Nwankwo has been able to put smiles on the faces of children and their mothers in this regard.
The Kanu Heart Foundation(KHF) founded in 2000 by Nwankwo Kanu has helped to literally bring this silent killer to the fore and saved hundreds of lives. Since then, the foundation has facilitated over 300 heart operations involving children, youths and adults outside the country.
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN) should also be commended in this regard for promising to establish a leading referral centre for kidney, heart transplant and all kidney-related diseases. Even though the governor is yet to actualise his promise, it is gratifying to know that he is aware of the importance of such a health facility.
It is time we addressed this area of our healthcare system that is killing our children and young adults in thousands every year. Government at all levels must constitute an emergency medical team to tackle this problem and give hope to sufferers.
Giving hope to patients suffering from these ailments brings to the fore the current health challenges being faced by Prince Ifeanyi Dike, Chairman, Board of Trustees, Actors Guild of Nigeria. Dike is reported to be suffering from kidney problem and has been on dialysis for the past one year. He needs about N50 million to treat the debilitating ailment.
It is our wish that government will rise to the occasion once more and assist this Nigerian to survive his present predicament. We are aware that there are many patients with heart and kidney-rlated ailments in the country now. Government should move in quickly to give them succour.
It is by so doing that the government can be seen to be responsive to the plight of its citizens.
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