Professor Fatiu Arogundade, Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Medicine and Medical Sciences in Abeokuta, Ogun State, has described chronic kidney disease as a growing public health challenge that demands immediate policy attention. In a statement reported by Punch Newspapers, Arogundade said the disease still constitutes a significant health burden on the country's population and called for efforts to integrate kidney care into the primary health care (PHC) programme.
The appeal comes as part of broader efforts to strengthen Nigeria's grassroots health infrastructure. Arogundade argued that embedding kidney disease screening, early detection, and basic management into primary health centres would improve access for Nigerians who currently face barriers to specialist nephrology services, many of which are concentrated in urban tertiary hospitals.
"Chronic kidney disease is often silent until it reaches advanced stages," Arogundade was quoted as saying. "Integrating care into PHC means that patients can be screened and managed closer to home, reducing the need for expensive tertiary referrals and improving early outcomes."
The VC's recommendation aligns with global health frameworks that emphasize task-shifting and primary-level management of non-communicable diseases. By placing kidney care within the reach of primary health workers, the proposal seeks to address gaps in early diagnosis, patient education, and continuity of treatment for a condition that disproportionately affects populations with limited access to specialised care.
Arogundade's remarks were made during a meeting with stakeholders focused on strengthening primary health care delivery in the state. The VC stressed that the integration would require training for primary health workers, availability of basic diagnostic tools at PHC facilities, and a referral pathway to higher centres for advanced cases.
The federal government has not yet issued an official response to the call, but health policy observers say the proposal touches on a critical area of Nigeria's health system. With kidney disease prevalence rising and treatment costs remaining high, integrating care into the PHC system could represent a significant shift in how the country manages chronic conditions at the population level.
The Punch Newspapers report quoted the VC as saying that chronic kidney disease still constitutes a significant health burden on the country's population, and called for efforts to integrate the service into the primary health care programme.