19th July, 2017
A Bill seeking to establish a National Renal Centre passed second reading in the House of Representatives on Wednesday.
Leading debate on the bill, its sponsor, Rep. Bede-Eke Uchenna (Imo-PDP), said it sought to establish a centre that would be charged with the responsibility of researching on the cure, prevention and management of kidney-related diseases.
According to Uchenna, medical experts have revealed that more people die every day from kidney-related diseases than from malaria and HIV/AIDS in Nigeria.
He said that with the increase in diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, more Nigerians were getting afflicted with kidney failure.
He said that it was disheartening to note that out of 50,000 patients who should be on dialysis, less than 1,000 were currently on dialysis due to inadequate facilities and resources.
Other lawmakers spoke in favour of the bill and decried the preponderance of adulterated foods, soft drinks, alcoholic drinks and drugs in circulation.
They lamented the huge number of Nigerians thronging the Indian Embassy in Nigeria for visa to access medical treatment for renal-related diseases.
The lawmakers, therefore, stressed the need for President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration to provide necessary resources for the establishment of Renal Centre in each state and the Federal Capital Territory.
After the debate, the house presided by the Deputy Speaker, Yusuff Lasun, referred the bill to the Committee on Health Institutions for further legislative action.