My husband abandoned me 18 months after marriage — Dr. Amina Ogashi
I have undergone kidney transplant twice —Chika Ezekwere

By Gabriel Olawale

LIVING with kidney disease is no picnic, but being diagnosed with End-Stage Kidney Disease, ESKD, also known as End Stage Renal Disease, ESRD or ESRD, is better imagined than experienced.
For millions of people all over the world and in Nigeria particularly, the outlook to life is bleak as a result of the challenge of living with this deadly condition that occurs when the kidneys no longer function well enough to meet the needs of daily life. They need to undergo regular dialysis to remove the products of their metabolic activities and other impurities
Most people that develop end stage kidney disease are at the final stage of chronic kidney disease that has led to failure of their kidneys. People that have diabetes, high blood pressure have the highest risk developing total renal failure. The best solution is usually kidney transplant.

Double jeopardy

A promising Nigerian medical doctor, Amina Ogashi, who is living with Sickle Cell Disease, is presently threatened by end stage kidney disease. An encounter with the 29-year-old was a revelation of the huge challenges of coping with series of sickle cell crises, while striving not to slide into the one-way journey of end stage kidney disease.
Amina whose ambition is to reach the peak of her academic career and put smiles on the face of her widowed mother, is also at risk of coming down with heart failure.
She tearfully recounted how, as a person living with Sickle Cell Disease, she developed the habit of ingesting painkillers to check the sickle cell crises. That habit unknowingly led to her kidney disease problem.
“I was born with the sickle cell gene and I used to take a lot of painkillers because of crisis pains. When I was at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH, I had stomach cramps but didn’t go for a medical check-up because I assumed it was the regular crisis pain. Six months after I started my Housemanship at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH, the stomach pains started again but this time I was feeling breathless whenever I walked and the stomach upset continued. It was excruciating.”

Chika Ezekwere

Amina who lamented that her dreams had been shattered, said at 26, she developed hypertension and later went down with chronic kidney disease.
“I saw it coming, but I didn’t know it could be kidney disease. My mind was on SCD. I reported to hospital at the final stage. I was diagnosed June 2015 and began dialysis three times a week at an average cost N120,000 a week.”
As luck would have it, when her condition took a turn for the worse, her husband abandoned her. “I was married, but my husband left me. We were married for only a year and half. Even with my medical background, things have not been easy. The pain of SCD combined with kidney disease is so uncomfortable, but there is nothing too difficult for God.”

Amina Ogashi

The case of Chika Ezekwere is diffrent. The young man who hails from Anambra State and is presently into selling of sports and fitness items while running his Masters Degree programme at theUniversity of Lagos, narrated what it’s like to undergo kidney transplant twice.
Ezekwere who is in his 30s, was diagnosed with Chronic Kidney Disease Stage IV in 2002 shortly after his SSCE. Prior to being diagnosed, he observed he had sweelings on his face and lower limbs and tired easily. He coped with all these until someone advised him to go for medical check-up.
“I took it lightly because I did not have prior knowledge of the disease, I assumed it was like malaria until I ended up with diagnosis of kidney failure and had to undergo kidney transplant.”
But over time and as a result of financial constraint, Ezekwere was unable to keep up with post transplant care. Ten years later, in 2012, he suffered another renal failure.
“I had to go back to square one, back to dialysis. This time around I had the experience, I knew the trauma, I knew the pain, I knew everything. It was a big shock. I was undergoing my National Service then. It was a flashback and as an individual I was depressed because I knew what I would confront but I summoned courage.
“I had the second kidney transplant in India, but getting a donor is a big challenge in Nigeria. I was fortunate to get a willing relative that donated. I am happily married and expectant father.”
A Professor of Medicine at the College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Prof. Monica Mabayoje said many factors have been adduced to the disturbing trend of kidney/renal failure. Mabayoje, who is Head of Dialysis/Nephrology Unit, LUTH, listed some of the factors to include untreated microbial infections, especially urinary tract infections, diarrhoea, malaria, hepatitis, diabetes, hypertension, potassium bromated poisoning, abuse of painkillers/ analgesics.
“In 2015, prevalence rate of CKD in Lagos State was 11.7 per cent, in Nigeria 13.7 per cent and sub-Sahara Africa 13.9 per cent.
Mabayoje, during an event put together by Healing Stripes Hospital to mark World Kidney Day, advocated for regular medical checkup.
She regretted that in early stages kidney disease shows no sign but once the patient presents with symptoms, the disease is advanced.
“Chronic Kidney Disease can present with urine foaming like detergent, general ill feeling, dry skin, itching, appetite loss, weight loss, etc.
“When it progresses, you will notice symptoms like bad breath, excessive urination at night, infrequent menstruation, swelling of the face and feet, muscle cramps, bone pain, etc. In the late stages, urine is reduced, foamy and often brownish. The person becomes extremely tired, breathless, and has frequent hiccups.”
Doctor in Charge, Healing Stripes Hospital, Dr. Ezinne Onyemere said their dialysis support scheme was set up to help alleviate the cost burden of dialysis and encourage savings for kidney transplant in Nigeria.
“The Scheme as two sides, where people can adopt a patient or subsidize a session. Since 2014, a total of 2,024 sessions have been subsidised and 534 free dialysis sessions rendered with support of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, City of David in Lekki, Lagos.”