Nigerian may soon have a policy on management of kidney ailments including care for living organ donors.
The positive signs emanated in Abuja at a forum celebrating kidney donors who are alive and kicking to tell their stories.
Leading the pack of optimists are Senator-elect Darlington Nwokocha, Abia Central; Dr Obi Ekwenna, a transplant surgeon and Dr Ibrahim Wada, founder of Nisa Premier Hospital.
Hon. Nwokocha, presently a member of the House of Representatives, promised to sensitize lawmakers on the importance of deepening healthcare insurance coverage and especially how the government can collaborate with corporate organisations and philanthropists in providing care and support to living organ donors.
“I am glad to hear the Clarion Call Care Foundation focusing on the wellness of donors. This is a welcome development and the government will find ways to collaborate in this effort.
“For me, coming from the legislative clan, I’ll do my best possible to see how I can support this aspect. Because it’s very key that the legislation is one aspect that can drive this process so extensively to dovetail into giving us the right answer to so many of these challenges”, said the lawmaker.
Nwokocha added that donors ought to be provided with access to psycho-social support, adequate care, thorough education and appropriate financial support during donation processes.
He also promised to collaborate with Clarion Call Care and sponsor 10 kidney transplantation process within the year.
Nwokocha urged all stakeholders to ensure that the brave individuals who chose to donate organs to save lives are treated with the utmost care and respect they deserve through education and legal framework.
Dr. Wada said the event which is the first of its kind in Nigeria, was organised to connect and honour individuals who had given the gift of life to others.
“I say to them, your courage, compassion, generosity have touched the lives of countless individuals and families and for that we thank you.
“Through this event, we aim to not only recognize but also offer our support to living kidney donors who have often undergone challenges in their journey to give life to someone else”, he said.
Wada said the event was organised to enable living donors to share their experiences, connect with others who are on similar journeys and to receive the support and care that they rightfully deserve.
The first Kidney Donor in the South-East, Mr. Joseph Uma said inadequate awareness and post-donation care could discourage willing donors.
Credible News reports that the high point of the event was the launch of a book titled “Priceless” authored by Uma.
The living donor day celebration hosted by Clarion Call Care and NISA Premier Hospital was organized to celebrate living organ donors especially kidney donors who had sacrificed a part of them to save the lives of others as well as to encourage others to help those in need around them and shun discrimination.
Clarion Call Care is a foundation passionate about providing care and support to those in need.
They provide public awareness, education research and health literacy pertaining to human organ and tissue donation, working with civil society, government, non-government, private and international agencies to provide care, research, support, assistance and protection of all living donors.
Headed by the Lead Surgeon, Dr. Obi Ekwenna, Clarion Call Care provides care, research, support services and assist patients with end organ disease throughout the transplantation process and after.
They provide and promote care, education, research, and health literacy on life style medicine specifically targeting kidney and urologic health.
Clarion Call Care has an unwavering commitment to the highest standards of responsibility and compassion: recognizing and developing a deeper sense of purpose rooted in values such as: Respect, integrity, forward focus, excellence, diversity, equity and inclusion.
