Sickle Cell Disorder (SCD) is by far the commonest inherited disorder in the world especially in Nigeria as a result of non-awareness of the risk factors and as a result of genetic inheritance, Nigeria-based Sickle Cell Foundation and Kidney consultant international have disclosed.
The two bodies, which made references to result of previous researches by experts, also say Sickle Cell Anaemia is one of the risk factors for renal failure.
Adebayo Shokunbi of the Kidney Consultants International, who spoke on the link between the two conditions said, "Renal disease is fast on the increase both internationally and locally that it requires more attention focused on it to reduce its prevalence."
He said one out of every ten people has one form of kidney disease or the other.
"The need to create more awareness about this in order to forestall the increasing prevalence prompted the Sickle Cell Foundation, Nigeria to collaborate with Kidney Consultants International in organising a symposium on Kidney Disease In Sickle Cell Disorder In Nigeria."
The Sickle Cell Foundation is a non-governmental organisation with a special interest in proper care and control of the Sickle Cell disorder in Nigeria.
The organisation has the primary aim of helping persons who have sickle cell disorder, through proper information, medical and social care, live as normally as possible and of reducing as much as is possible, the incidence of the disorders in our country.
On the other hand, Kidney Consultants International (KCI) is also a non-profit organisation with the mission of improving Nigerian renal healthcare.
"In a bid to achieve this, KCI has been engaged with providing education and preventive screening to the Nigerian public at various times since inception," shokunbi said.
The awareness-creating symposium is billed to hold on Thursday November 27, 2008, in lagos. The forum, according to the organisers, aims to educate the general public about the risk factors for both ailments and also to advocate prevention, which Shokunbi said is the most effective management tool, as neither of the two can actually be cured once they occur.
"Besides the cost of managing these non-infectious diseases is often beyond the reach of most Nigerians and are not currently covered by National Health Insurance Scheme," he added.