Kidney
By Vivian Ihechu
Lagos, May 2, 2018 (NAN) The Renal Dialysis Centre (RDC), Opebi, Ikeja says it has commenced discussions with Uber and Taxify on how they can assist dialysis patients meet up their weekly sessions at their different clinics.
Dr John Okoh, Founder and the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the centre disclosed this at the inaugural meeting of its Medical Advisory Board in Lagos.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Prof. Babatunde Salako, Director-General, Nigeria Institute for Medical Research (NIMR), Lagos is the board’s chairman.
Other members are: Prof. Rosamund Akuse; a notable nephrologist, Dr Adekoya Olayinka, Dr Amisu Mumuni, Mrs Olayinka Osuntogun and Dr Theophilus Umeizudike.
Okoh said: “Patients wellbeing and care is at the heart of what we do, we individualise care plans based on the need of each patient whom we refer to as our client.
“We are aware that the news of kidney disease and dialysis can be a devastating one for individuals and their families.
“As such, we make a commitment to each client and their families to stay with them through the journey.
“We ensure that our patients and caregivers are educated on the disease and counselled on the many options and resources that are available to help them.
“To ensure quality care and well-being for each client, attention is given to scheduling, dialyzer type, water quality, cost, nursing care and most importantly consultant clinical reviews,’’ he said.
Okoh said that discussions were in progress between the centre, Uber and Taxify on how they could help dialysis patients meet up with their weekly dialysis sessions.
He said they were looking for convenient options for dialysis patients while travelling to the clinic with Uber ride at a discounted rate.
“ This is part of the centre’s commitment to make life easier for dialysis patients’’.
The founder of the center also said that they were also partnering a reputable pharmacy to improve drug access for our clients at a subsidised price.
Okoh speaking on the need for an advisory board for the centre said, “The Renal Dialysis Centre needs an advisory board because we are on a “transformational journey.
“We have decided to inaugurate a `Medical Advisory Board’ whom we are sure will bring the much-needed perspective to the work we do as a dialysis service provider.
“We believe that their contributions will help sustain and improve the standard of care we offer to our current and prospective clients.’’Okoh also spoke on what the centre had to offer dialysis patients.
Okoh said: “Our mission is to provide accessible, affordable and quality dialysis service to people with kidney disease through individualised care to improve quality of life.
“Our company is currently on a transformation process under the supervision/training of the Stanford seed programme being run by the prestigious Stanford University.
“The aim is to transform our business to meet world-class standards, using homegrown solutions in other to reach more people who are suffering from kidney disease.
“We will be bringing to the world, the plight of kidney disease patients and the challenges they face in developing nations like Nigeria.
“Here in Nigeria, insurance system is still at the infancy stages and transplantation still with its own challenge of cost, donor, post-transplant care,’’ Okoh said.
In his remarks, Prof. Babatunde Salako, Chairman, RDC Medical Advisory Board, commended the centre for its focus.
“I am impressed at the conducive environment, cleanliness and high standard of care.
“There is need for you to remain focused, develop and stick to your business plan and endeavour to bring current trends to local standards,’’ he said.
Salako said that there was the need to continuously engage the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to sponsor enrollees and cater for more patients with renal diseases.(NAN)
VIV/ENN/PAD
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Editing by Edwin Nwachukwu/Peter Dada