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The Chief Medical Director of the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital, RSUTH, Professor Chizindu Alikor, has called for urgent action to address kidney disease, which he described as a “global public health emergency.”
Alikor made the call on Wednesday during the maiden edition of RSUTH Kidney Day, an event that marked the unveiling of state-of-the-art renal services aimed at transforming kidney care in Rivers State and across the Niger Delta region.
He emphasized the hospital’s commitment to addressing the growing burden of kidney disease, noting, “The reality of kidney disease truly has shifted. It’s no longer a niche medical concern, but a full-scale global public health emergency that demands our immediate attention.”
Describing the occasion as a turning point in RSUTH’s medical services, Alikor highlighted the hospital’s technological advancements, including Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy, CRRT, and automated peritoneal dialysis.
“We can now offer continuous, stabilized renal intervention for patients facing complex conditions, including in setting of severe electrolyte derangement, even in setting of heart failure,” he said.
He added that the launch was more than just unveiling equipment, but the beginning of a new era of clinical excellence that underscores RSUTH’s mission to expand access to specialized renal care.
Also speaking, Dr. Eleki Beniboba, Head of the Renal Centre at RSUTH, outlined the operational impact of the new services, stressing their importance for both adult and pediatric patients.
She said the expansion represents “a major shift towards a more inclusive, sustainable, and compassionate model of kidney care here at RSUTH.”
Beniboba highlighted the benefit of automated peritoneal dialysis for children with acute kidney injury, stating, “For our children who come with different forms of kidney disease of particular interest, the acute kidney injury, this expansion represents a life-changing opportunity.”
She further detailed RSUTH’s latest therapeutic initiatives, including plasmapheresis, a specialized treatment for complex immunological disorders.
