Anokwuru Uche Alexis|9 March 2018
Reports have it that 10% of the population worldwide are affected by Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), 1 in 5 men and 1 in 4 women between the ages 65 and 74 are prone to CKD and half of 75 or more have some degree of CKD. Consequent on this, the CRSG in collaboration with the Renal Unit of the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital organized a sensitization campaign and free medical outreach for women in the State at the Incubation Centre in the Ministry of Women Affairs Headquarters to raise more awareness to curb CKD in the State.
The World Kidney Day is celebrated every second Thursday in the month of march annually, but this year it was celebrated in the State earlier because it coincides with the international women’s day, hence the theme 'Kidneys and Women’s Health'.
This year, women groups from all works of life led by the immediate past President of Medical Women Association of Nigeria (MWAN) Cross River State Chapter, Dr. Nchiewi Ani, came out in solidarity to show support for each other and seized the opportunity to get tested and counselled by urinal experts at no cost at all.
The State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Hon. Stella Odey, urged women in the state to take full advantage of the opportunity to get themselves properly screened and counselled. She also said the theme for this year’s event is very apt as it tells how much the female gender is prone to CKD.
Meanwhile the State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Inyand Asibong, has called on the public to monitor their blood pressure, eat healthy, exercise regularly, keep tabs on their blood sugar level and weight, as well as avoid smoking and incessant drug in takes as these are some of the ways the kidney gets overworked and exposed.
While Dr. Emmannuel Effa, a Urinal expert from UCTH opined that early CKD often has no signs or symptoms. He further explained that a person can lose up to 90% of their kidney function before experiencing any signs, but simple urine test to check for protein in the urineor blood test to check the level of careatimine in the blood are ways of detecting CKD. While sign of advancing CKD include swollen ankles, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, decreased appetite, and foamy urine, he concluded.
The State Government is working assiduously to ensure women in the local communities and rural areas also benefit from the screening and counselling by ensuring the event is cascaded to carry everybody along.
Anokwuru Uche Alexis
Writes from Calabar