It was a moment of joy for post-kidney transplant patients in the State when the state Governor Mr. Udom Emmanuel imported and donated to them recommended drugs for post kidney transplant treatment.
Speaking with newsmen, one of the beneficiaries, Mr. Okokon Akpanuko thanked the Governor who made the drugs available through his Senior Special Assistant on Medical Matters, Dr. Ignatius Akpabio for all he has done to enable them get medication to stay alive.
He said though he did not actually go through the pain because he realized the issue early, he was glad that he is alive through benevolence of the Governor, adding that before government's intervention he usually spend one hundred and fifty thousand naira monthly for drugs.
Also speaking, Ms. Otoabasi Philip expressed happiness to Governor Udom Emmanuel, noting that before now, the amount spent monthly by each of them for treatment was based on the type of drugs and dosage as each of them could spend from N150,000 to N450,000.
" If we were to buy that drugs in Nigeria, the cost will be too much on us that was why we made up our mind to send it from India to minimize the cost.
"Some of our patients have died because they couldn't have money to afford these drugs. I know two young men who the then Governor Akpabio helped to carry out transplant, but when they came back they did not have money to afford the drugs."
On how long they intend taking the drugs, one of the beneficiaries, Mr. Kenneth Ekpe said for now, it is a life time commitment, adding that they are not expected to miss any dose which is 12 hours every day, as missing a dosage will lead to serious complication.
In his words, Dr Udeme Ekrikpo, a consultant Kidney Physician in charge of the post-kidney transplant patients, thanked the Governor for his assistance and intervention.
He appealed to government to extend the help to patients who have not undergone kidney transplantation.
"Now in Akwa Ibom we see on daily basis a new kidney failure patient many of them die because they cannot afford one session of kidney dialysis which is between N30,000 to N40,000.
"I government can also help us subsidize the cost of hemodailysis it will be a big help. Most of our patients are in their 30s and 40s, and these are the most productive years in one's life.
" We will be very happy if the Government also extends helping hands not just to individuals who have had kidney transplantation and need medication daily to survive, but also to those who have kidney failure and need hemodialysisto get to the point of needing kidney transplantation."
Dr. Ifiok Etim of the Government House Clinic, presented the drugs to the patients on behalf of Dr. Akpabio.
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