Experts in kidney disease treatment are urging for stricter regulations on carbonated and alcoholic drinks in Nigeria to combat the rising cases of organ failure. These beverages, high in sugar and harmful chemicals, are damaging kidneys over time, prompting calls for government intervention in their production and sale.
The appeal was made during a rally organized by the Kidney Department of the Federal Medical Centre, Ebutte-Metta, in observance of World Kidney Day, themed ‘Kidney Health For All’. The annual global health awareness campaign, celebrated every second Thursday in March, aims to educate on healthy lifestyles, risk factors, and coping mechanisms for kidney diseases.
At the rally, Monisola Ogunleye, Head of the Dialysis Unit, advocated for a ban on high-sugar drinks and stricter labeling, emphasizing the need for public education on kidney disease risks associated with these beverages. Without such measures, Ogunleye warned of a continued rise in kidney damage cases, particularly among young people and minors due to alcohol and carbonated drink consumption.
Ogunleye stressed the importance of drinking water to preserve kidney health, noting that dehydration harms the kidneys. She advised consuming two to three liters of water daily to prevent kidney damage caused by excessive salt, sugary drinks, alcohol, and certain pain relief medications.
Nephrologist Dr. Danladi Nmadu highlighted the neglect of kidneys as contributing to the increasing cases of kidney failure, exacerbated by poor management of diabetes and high blood pressure. He urged Nigerians to reduce salt and sugar intake, prioritize early detection, and treatment of kidney diseases.
The hospital organized the rally to raise awareness and screen residents for kidney disease, emphasizing the need to address Westernized diets, increasing diabetes, and hypertension cases. The Global Burden of Disease 2015 study estimated a 32% increase in global kidney failure deaths since 2005, with millions dying without access to chronic dialysis.
The National Kidney Foundation defines chronic kidney disease as conditions that impair kidney function, affecting overall health by reducing waste filtration. The World Health Organization reports millions globally dying from end-stage kidney disease without dialysis access, underscoring the urgency of kidney health awareness and preventive measures.
