The Kidney Care and Support Initiative, a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) has raised the total sum of N5, 035.000 and pledges of two dialysis centers in support of people living with Kidney diseases.

The fund raising took place yesterday during the first annual general meeting/ the fund raising of the organisation in Abuja where the Chairman, Board of Trustees of the organisation, Mr. Swani B. Gandu appealed for a more compassionate approach to issues related to renal disease.

Associating themselves with the goals of the organisation, the Chairman LEADERSHIP Newspapers Group, Mr. Sam Nda- Isaiah and the Chairman of Tak Continental Group, Mr. Thomas Etuh both made personal donations of One million naira each to the organisation.

In his remarks, Mr. Gandu said that most Nigerians have lost their lives to kidney diseases not because there is no treatment but for the financial burden that has been placed on them in the course of getting the treatment.

"The idea to set up this organisation came to me four years ago when I lost my kidney and have to be placed on dialysis for survival. The treatment has taken me to various cities and it was during these trips that I saw the sufferings of my fellow Nigerians.

"Though dialysis has been improved upon in Nigeria, the prices still differ in various dialysis centers and there are people who cannot afford them. Some of these people need this dialysis three or four times in a week. Most of these people are dying, not because there is no treatment, but because of the financial burden which has been placed on them. "

Stating the reason for the high rate of Kidney diseases in Nigeria, Head, Department of Nephrology, Jos University Teaching Hospital, Dr. Emmanuel Agaba, represented by Dr. Gimba Mark revealed that hypertension, as well as drug abuse are the commonest causes of kidney diseases in Nigeria.

"The risk factors for kidney diseases are hypertensions, diabetes, and chronic glomeluron nephritis are usually the three commonest and diabetes is the commonest cause of kidney diseases worldwide, but hypertension and chronic are the most common in Nigeria. Also are lots of things that we do like use of drugs without prescriptions such as the pain killers, herbal medicines. "

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