Mr. Zahi El-Khatib, the Managing Director, Rencare-Reeemer’s Health Centre (Rencare-RHC) Dialysis Centre, Ibadan, says no fewer than 20,000 Nigerians develop end-stage kidney disease every year.
El-Khatib made this known on Thursday in Ibadan at the inauguration of the Rencare-RHC Dialysis Project, a four-bed renal care and treatment centre inaugurated by the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) in partnership with Rencare Africa.
El-Khatib, also revealed that “one in 10 Nigerians are living with kidney problems.”
According to him, majority of people suffering from Chronic Kidney Diseases (CKD) don’t have access to affordable and quality renal healthcare services.
“It is estimated that every year, 20,000 more Nigerians will have end-stage kidney diseases and about one in 10 Nigerians are estimated to suffer from a renal disease.
“In order for these people to survive, they would require dialysis, transplant and other renal treatments.
“However, the country is no where near to providing adequate renal care services that are affordable, accessible and qualitative.
“We have invested in this facility in order to provide affordable and reliable renal care.
“Rencare-RHC Dialysis Centre is a state-of-the-art dialysis centre that provides world class renal care covering treatment and diagnosis of Chronic Kidney Diseases (CKD).
“Our team of experts will ensure that our patients receive the highest level of care and comfort, using the latest technologies to achieve optimal outcomes,” he said.
In his remarks, Prof. Adeniyi Adenipekun, the Chairman, Board of Management, RHC, Ibadan, said that the rising prevalence of CKD in Nigeria prompted the RCCG to partner with Rencare Africa to provide affordable and optimal renal care services for Nigerians.
Adenipekun said that the RHC, which started as a general hospital, is now a full-fledged specialist hospital.
“We look at the incidence of renal problems rising and of course apart from the teaching hospital that we have in town with issues and too much number of cases that they can handle, we thought of having such centre here in Ibadan.
“The rising incidence of CKD prompted us to embark on this project, majority of people who develop CKD are not able to access and afford renal treatment and care.
“As part of our Christian Social Responsibility (CSR), we are determined to make this facility affordable and accessible to all and sundry.
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“Our desire is to expand this facility because as it is now, we are already oversubscribed,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Oyo State Branch, has lauded the initiative of the RCCG to provide optimal and affordable renal care to the teeming population of Oyo State.
Its Chairman, Dr Ayotunde Fasunla, said that the University College Hospital (UCH), as the only government-owned tertiary healthcare facility in Ibadan metropolis, has made speciased healthcare such as kidney treatment very expensive and suboptimal.
“The RCCG opening this dialysis centre is an important initiative that will add value to the health of the residents.
“We currently have just few dialysis centres that are not enough to provide affordable care to people suffering from CKD.
“The incidence of CKD is increasing everyday and the World Health Organisation has said that the prevalent rate of CKD, which was14 per cent in 2000, is projected to increase to about 16.7 per cent by 2030.
“This means we will have more people living with CKD ranging from mild to end-stage renal failure.
“Having this kind of renal centre will really help to reduce the burden of CKD in Oyo State and the country as a whole.
“The NMA, as a body, really appreciates this initiative,” he said.
Earlier, the Pastor-in-Charge, Oyo Province 2, Pastor Ayo Arije, said the facility was another giant stride of the church toward bridging healthcare disparity gap.
“Without doubt, this is another giant step by this hospital, among other steps previously taken, to take this hospital to higher level in the provision of advanced and sophisticated healthcare facility to the people,” he said. (NAN)
