FEC approves purchase of dialysis machines to combat Kidney disease
By Kunle Sanni
The Federal Executive Council (FEC), led by President Bola Tinubu, has approved the acquisition of 7,887 dialysis consumables to enhance healthcare for citizens suffering from kidney diseases.
This announcement was made by the Minister of Health and Coordinating Minister for Social Work, Ali Pate, while addressing State House reporters on Monday. The briefing followed the conclusion of the FEC meeting, presided over by President Bola Tinubu, at the Council Chambers in Abuja.
Pate emphasized the project’s importance in addressing the rising incidence of non-communicable diseases such as hypertension and diabetes. The dialysis consumables will be distributed among seven federal tertiary hospitals, including the University of Benin Teaching Hospital and the National Hospital in Abuja.
He highlighted the critical need for both treatment and prevention, outlining plans for public health screenings and initiatives promoting lifestyle changes to reduce future cases of kidney disease.
“Our focus is not only on providing necessary treatments but also on preventing these conditions through public health measures and lifestyle modifications,” Pate stated. This comprehensive approach aims to enhance the overall health and well-being of the Nigerian population.
“In continuation of the President’s efforts to reduce the cost of access to healthcare services, considering the vast non-communicable diseases we experience in Nigeria, such as hypertension, diabetes, kidney disease, and several vascular diseases, the council today approved the one-time purchase of 7,887 sets of dialysis consumables for Nigerians suffering from chronic diseases in seven of our federal tertiary hospitals,” Pate said.
Listing the locations where the dialysis machines will be allocated, the Minister specified, “The hospitals include the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Federal Medical Center in Ebute Metta, Federal Medical Center in Owerri, the National Hospital in Abuja, Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, and Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital in Bauchi.”
“This effort aims to make the cost of treatment more affordable for those suffering from kidney diseases requiring dialysis. It’s a start, but dealing with kidney disease requires not only dialysis but also prevention. This is part of the Federal Ministry of Health’s efforts to prevent cases of hypertension and diabetes from progressing to kidney disease,” he explained.
“We’re looking at screening so that Nigerians can screen themselves for hypertension and diabetes, and also adopt lifestyle modifications to reduce the number of people requiring dialysis. For those affected, we know that the cost of access is a major impediment,” Pate added.
“This initiative by Mr. President is designed to bring relief within the context of several other policy measures to ensure that Nigerians have access to critical healthcare services. With this approval, we will provide much-needed relief to many Nigerians and their families by making dialysis services more accessible,” he concluded.
