Egbeyinka moses (Normal one)

KIDNEY FAILURE: THE SILENT EPIDEMIC KILLING YOUNG PEOPLE I will never forget the day I saw it. A boy, not even 22, lying on a dialysis machine. His mother sat beside him, silent, her head buried in her palms. She didn’t cry out loud, but her whole body was screaming. That kind of pain you can’t capture with words — the pain of watching your child’s life drip away in a hospital ward. That picture still haunts me. Because kidney failure used to be an old man’s story. Now, it is swallowing young Nigerians — our classmates, our colleagues, our neighbors. And here is the part nobody tells you: dialysis is not a cure, it doesn't get rid of kidney failure. It is a survival rent. ₦50,000 per session. Two or three times every week. Forever. That’s over five hundred thousand naira every month, in a country where many people cannot afford ₦5,000 for drugs. So families sell land. They borrow. They beg. And when money runs out, hope runs out. But how did that boy end up on that machine? Because in this country, we treat kidneys like dustbins. — Swallowing painkillers for every small headache. — Using antibiotics like groundnut. — Drinking bitters and agbo in the name of “detox.” — Mixing energy drinks with alcohol because “the hustle must continue.” Listen carefully: your kidney is not a generator you can pour anything inside. Two small organs, the size of your fists, have been faithfully filtering your blood since the day you were born. No strike. No complaint. No salary. Yet every day, we punish them until they collapse. And when they collapse? You'll likely experience; Swollen legs. Foamy urine. Shortness of breath. And by the time you notice, it’ll already be too late. But here’s the truth: kidney failure doesn’t just fall from the sky. It gives warning signs. And you can catch them if you check early. 👉 Run these tests at least once a year (they’re not as expensive as dialysis): Blood pressure check – high BP silently kills kidneys. Fasting blood sugar – diabetes is one of the biggest kidney destroyers. Serum creatinine & eGFR – simple blood tests to measure kidney function. Urinalysis – to check for protein, blood, or infection in your urine. Kidney ultrasound – a quick scan to see their condition. And then, adjust your habits: Drink water like your life depends on it because it does, but be mindful of how much water you drink because that could also lead to water intoxication. Rest before your body forces you to. Stop swallowing drugs like puff-puff. Leave concoctions and bitters for those selling them. Get rid of junk, sugar and soda. That boy should have been chasing his future. His mother should have been celebrating his success. Instead, they were both trapped in the endless cycle of survival rent. Your kidney has been loyal since birth. Be loyal back. Because kidney failure is no longer “their problem.” It is already here, sitting in our hospitals, destroying young lives. Don’t wait for it to knock on your own door. Don't forget to reach out for a diet plan. Share and tag your friends.