Oyo State Government says it has trained no fewer than 30 healthcare workers on Haemodialysis toward preventing renal complications, kidney injuries and deaths.
Prof. Temitope Alonge, the Chairman, Oyo State COVID-19 Task Force, made this known on Friday at a three-day training/workshop on Haemodialysis held at the State Infectious Disease Centre, Olodo in Ibadan.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the participants were drawn from the centre and the state Hospital Management Board.
Alonge said that findings during the third wave of COVID-19 pandemic revealed that few of their patients have features of impaired renal functions, acute kidney injuries and kidney renal failure.
He said that findings of impaired renal function prompted the brainstorm on what to be done, part of which was a dialysis unit and training of workers.
“We need to put a dialysis unit here because some of the patients that needed dialysis during the COVID-19 unfortunately could not have access to dialysis.
“So, today we are quite delighted to have this training, hopefully our nurses will now see the value in the care that they offer the patients.
“It will be total care and I believe it is the right thing to do,” the chairman of the task force said.
Alonge, also a former Chief Medical Director, University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, said many assumed that the Olodo Centre was earmarked for only Coronavirus patients.
He said that management of the centre had discussed with the state government about other infectious diseases and impaired renal function which required admission.
“We want this to be a centralised point in Oyo State where our patients with Lassa Fever, Hepatitis, HIV, Coronavirus, who have renal impairment can actually come here and have their dialysis done,” Alonge said.
Also, Dr Idris Fasasi, the Chief Medical Director, Oyo State Infectious Disease Centre, Olodo, said the training was aimed at empowering health workers on Haemodialysis services.
Fasasi said that no fewer than 30 participants attended the workshop and were expected to dialyse patients.
“So, we decided to have our own dialysis unit and His Excellency, Gov. Seyi Makinde, graciously approved Dialysis unit for us at the Infectious Disease Centre. They gave us Dialysis machine.
“We now deem it fit that we need to train the healthcare workers on Haemodialysis so that we can have our staff to dialyse our patients.
“To prevent deaths, to prevent further complications, that is why the Dialysis unit is here and it is helpful,” he said. (NAN)
