Urges early screening, responsible drug use, lifestyle changes

As Wellington Hospital performs 4,657 Surgeries in 15 Years,

A Consultant Neurosurgeon and Chief Executive Officer of Wellington Neurology and Neurosurgery Hospital Abuja, Dr Charles Ugwuanyi has warned that Nigeria is facing a growing kidney health crisis, with as many as 9,000 new cases of end-stage kidney failure reportedly emerging every month and called for urgent attention to prevention, early diagnosis and improved access to specialist care.

Speaking to journalists on 15th anniversary of the hospital on Monday in Abuja, the Ugwuanyi, who spoke on kidney disease prevention and the challenges of delivering specialised healthcare in Nigeria, said the reported monthly figure was alarming and underscored the need for Nigerians to take routine health checks seriously rather than wait until symptoms become severe.

He identified hypertension, diabetes, excessive alcohol consumption and the indiscriminate use of medications as important risk factors that require greater public awareness and intervention.

Ugwuanyi stated that the country’s response to kidney disease must go beyond social media campaigns and sensational commentary to practical measures that help prevent illness, support affected patients and improve access to treatment.

“The problem is that it assuming an epidemic pattern and the question is why is it so? The solution is not in making noise on social media. It is to find out what the issues are and how you can help,” he said.

According to him, the growing burden of kidney disease calls for a stronger culture of preventive healthcare, particularly among young Nigerians who may be living with high blood pressure or elevated blood sugar without knowing it.

Ugwuanyi expressed concern that many Nigerians, including young adults, are reluctant to undergo routine medical examinations, often because they feel healthy or believe that serious illness will not affect them.

He said undiagnosed or poorly controlled hypertension remains a major concern because prolonged high blood pressure can damage the kidneys, while diabetes is another leading cause of chronic kidney disease.

Ugwuanyi urged Nigerians to make blood pressure and blood sugar checks part of their regular healthcare routine, stressing that early detection gives patients an opportunity to manage underlying conditions before irreversible damage occurs

The CEO highlighted the financial barriers that can prevent people from adhering to prescribed treatment.

Ugwuanyi also warned against the uncontrolled use of painkillers and other medications, particularly non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), including ibuprofen, indomethacin and naproxen.

He said, “Although these medicines can be useful when appropriately prescribed, prolonged use, excessive doses and certain patterns of misuse can cause kidney injury, especially in people who already have kidney disease, dehydration or other risk factors”.

Ugwuanyi called for greater public understanding of the dangers associated with self-medication, inappropriate antibiotic use and failure to follow medical instructions.

He maintained that prevention must begin with practical, evidence-based interventions, including regular health checks, responsible medication use, moderation in alcohol consumption and effective management of hypertension and diabetes.

Ugwuanyi cautioned against attributing kidney disease to particular food products or manufacturing processes without adequate scientific evidence, arguing that public health campaigns should prioritise established risk factors.

On diet, he advocated healthier eating habits and greater attention to food quality and preparation. However, he acknowledged that the causes of kidney disease are varied and that prevention efforts must be guided by sound medical evidence rather than assumptions about individual foods or household technologies.

He decried the huge capital flight being lost every year by Nigeria to medical tourism, stressing that the country loses over $2 billion to medical tourism.

Ugwuanyi argued that Nigeria can reduce outbound medical tourism by strengthening the capacity of local hospitals to provide high-quality specialist services.

He said investment in equipment, reliable electricity, professional training, research and institutional partnerships could help create better treatment opportunities within the country.

Ugwuanyi maintained that private healthcare institutions in the country should be supported to develop the expertise and infrastructure required to manage more complex cases locally, reducing the need for patients to travel abroad where appropriate treatment is available at home.

Ugwuanyi highlighted the broader challenges of sustaining specialist healthcare services in Nigeria, including reliable electricity, functional equipment, trained personnel, rehabilitation facilities and adequate support services.

He described how hospitals providing complex medical and surgical services must invest in systems that allow clinicians to work safely and consistently, particularly when caring for critically ill patients.

According to him, reliable electricity is essential to the operation of modern medical equipment and the delivery of uninterrupted care.

He said Wellington Hospital had moved away from dependence on public electricity supply and diesel-powered generators towards solar power generation, reporting that the facility had achieved 120 consecutive days of uninterrupted electricity.

Ugwuanyi said the hospital was established in February 2011 with a clear mission to provide specialised treatment for disorders affecting the brain, spine and peripheral nerves, drawing on the expertise he and his colleague, Dr Jubril, acquired during their training in the United Kingdom.
He disclosed that the hospital has performed 4,657 surgical operations and attended to 9,457 patients in 15 years, underscoring its commitment to specialised brain and spine care in Nigeria.

Ugwuanyi highlighted the institution’s growth, investments in advanced medical equipment and plans to expand access to specialist healthcare through collaboration with other medical disciplines.

According to him, the hospital’s 15-year record, reflects its continued focus on the treatment of neurological and neurosurgical conditions, even as it develops the capacity to accommodate other medical specialties.

A breakdown of the hospital’s reported surgical figures showed that 2,150 operations were performed on the brain, while 2,307 involved the spine. The remaining procedures involved peripheral nerves and other specialised interventions.

Ugwuanyi explained that although the hospital’s central mission remained brain and spine care, the complexity of treating such conditions made collaboration with other medical specialties essential.

He noted that the brain does not function in isolation but depends on other organs, including the heart, lungs and kidneys. Consequently, patients undergoing major neurosurgical procedures may require additional specialist support before, during and after surgery.

He said the hospital had therefore developed collaborative arrangements with specialists in areas such as orthopaedics, plastic surgery, diagnostic imaging and transplant surgery.

However, he stressed that such partnerships must be guided by professional competence, appropriate supervision and patient safety.

“Whoever you are collaborating with, you must make sure the competence level matches the competence level,” he said, adding that the referring institution must retain an appropriate level of oversight to ensure patients receive safe and effective care.

Investment in advanced medical technology
Ugwuanyi said the hospital had expanded its facilities and acquired equipment designed to improve diagnosis, surgical precision and the management of critically ill patients.

Among the technologies he highlighted were computerised tomography (CT) scanning, electroencephalography (EEG), specialised operating theatre equipment and a neuro-navigation system designed to help surgeons locate targeted areas of the brain during operations.

He described neuro-navigation as a particularly important advancement in brain surgery because it enables surgeons to use computer-based imaging to guide them towards specific anatomical targets.

According to him, Wellington Hospital has installed a neuro-navigation system that he believes is uncommon in the West African sub-region.

The hospital has also invested in intensive care services, which Ugwuanyi described as indispensable to the management of patients undergoing complex brain and spinal operations.

He said the intensive care unit was equipped to provide advanced monitoring, mechanical ventilation and other forms of organ support for patients whose conditions require close observation following surgery.

The facility also has seven dialysis machines to support patients who develop kidney complications or require renal support during critical illness, he added.

Ugwuanyi said the hospital’s approach was based on the understanding that successful specialist treatment depends not only on the operation itself but also on the availability of supporting services capable of managing complications and protecting patients throughout their treatment.

The hospital, he said, now has six operating suites, including dedicated facilities for brain and spinal surgery, alongside theatres for other procedures and an endoscopy suite.

He explained that the arrangement was designed to support different procedures simultaneously and provide a platform for collaboration with specialists whose services complement the hospital’s core expertise.

He cited the use of the facilities by transplant teams as an example of how such collaboration could broaden the range of services available to patients.

Ugwuanyi said the hospital was not primarily established as a kidney treatment centre, but its existing equipment and infrastructure had enabled it to support patients and specialist teams requiring renal and surgical services.

He maintained that the hospital’s responsibility was to provide an environment in which procedures could be undertaken with appropriate monitoring, anaesthesia and attention to patient safety.

Reflecting on the importance of neurosurgery, Ugwuanyi said the brain remained one of the most complex organs to treat because of the multiple functions it controls throughout the body.

He explained that surgeons must carefully assess the potential consequences of an operation and discuss the associated risks with patients before proceeding.

According to him, advances in medical technology have improved the ability of specialists to diagnose and treat neurological conditions, but successful outcomes still depend on expertise, proper investigation and appropriate clinical decision-making.