By steve anyebe.
Since the first WORLD KIDNEY DAY CELEBRATION held in 2006, every second Thursday of the month of March has been observed globally as a day to create further awareness about the importance of a healthy kidney, how to maintain healthy kidneys, as well as how to prevent kidney related diseases. The 2024 edition was marked in Otukpo with the theme “Kidney Health For All”, organised by the Godwin Obla Foundation in conjunction with the Federal University of Health Sciences Otukpo (FUHSO). The event, which entailed a march from the JUDITH OGWA OBLA MEMORIAL KIDNEY CENTRE into major streets of the town, saw both the Director General of the Foundation and the FUHSO Vice-Chancellor leading scores of healthcare professionals in sensitising members of the public on the role of the kidney in overall health and well-being.
In his speech, Vice-Chancellor Prof (Dr) Innocent AO Ujah, mni, OON, NPOM, expressed elation at the rapid progress so far recorded in the health status of the area since the establishment of FUHSO, commending Chief Godwin Odumu Obla, SAN, for being the spirit behind the 2024 World Kidney Day celebration through the building of a state of the art Kidney Centre for the University. He pointed out that since the JUDITH OGWA OBLA MEMORIAL KIDNEY CENTRE became functional, many patients had benefited from dialysis, while trips to far hospitals, with attendant financial and physical trauma had been considerably reduced.
Contributing to the celebration, the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the FUHSO Teaching Hospital, Prof Silas Ochejele, said the actualisation of the Kidney Centre was a dream realised as nobody thought of its possibility a few years back. Stressing that Chief Godwin Obla’s benevolence was unequalled, the CMD appealed to the public to avail themselves of the opportunities provided at the Kidney Centre by going for early checkups to prevent escalation of diseases.
The Director General, Godwin Obla Foundation, Elder Uba Obande, JP, extolled the idea behind the World Kidney Day celebration, describing it as a necessary process towards the optimal performance of the organ that filters our blood and the whole system to keep us healthy.
“We join the rest of the world in marking the Kidney Day in line with our vision and mission of a healthy and productive community. To achieve this, we need to constantly ensure that we create access to opportunities for members of the community to take informed decisions through quality health information. We are encouraged by the fact that no such mass mobilization and or conscientization has ever been carried out anywhere in Idomaland as far as kidney health is concerned.
“We continue to appreciate God and our Chairman, Chief Godwin Obla, SAN, for his selfless commitment to service for humanity. We also appreciate the Vice-Chancellor of FUHSO, Prof Innocent Ujah, the CMD of the Teaching Hospital, Prof Silas Ochejele, and Managing Director of Joy FM, Mrs Christabel Iyanya, for their special interest in and contributions towards the World Kidney Day celebration 2024 and the Judith Ogwa Obla Memorial Kidney Centre”, Elder Uba concluded.
Information available on the Internet indicate that kidneys are complicated and amazing organs inside the human body that perform many critical functions to maintain healthy life. Some of these essential roles include: removing toxins and excess water from the blood; controlling blood pressure; producing red blood cells; keeping bones healthy; controlling blood acidity; and controlling levels of many minerals and molecules, including potassium and sodium.
With reference to what we should do as our duties to keep our kidneys healthy and functional, it is advised that we keep generally fit and active through proper exercises; eat healthy diets; check regularly and control blood sugar level; control blood pressure; take appropriate fluid intake; avoid smoking; avoid self medication; and check our kidney function regularly.