THE Nigerian Navy has upgraded its Haemodialysis Centre in Lagos for better performance and optimum service for patients in the military circle and members of the public.The Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Ola Saad Ibrahim, who was represented by the Flag Officer Commanding Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Amin Ikioda, commissioned the upgraded facility located at the Nigerian Naval Dockyard, Victoria Island, Lagos.Commissioning the rehabilitated centre, the CNS described the centre as a masterpiece in the nation's medical sector.Ibrahim noted that the services being rendered at the facility would boost civil/military relationship since most civilians who usually travel abroad for medical treatment would now have access to quality Medicare at the naval medical facility.He, therefore, called on members of the public who need such dialysis to take advantage of the facility being managed by qualified medical experts for their medical examination.Earlier, Surgeon Commodore Tamino Epelle, who is the Director of Naval Medical Services, said that the centre would offer Haemodialysis, which was a component of Renal Replacement Therapy for Kidney patients.'Haemodialysis treatment relieves symptoms and improves quality of life for the afflicted,' he said. By 1996, the centre was functioning at a capacity of four concurrent dialysis sessions and ranked among the best in the country, receiving referrals from both public and private hospitals, with clientele including foreigners. As at 2006, when the service was suspended, over 350 dialysis sessions had been recorded,' he also revealed.According to the surgeon the centre was closed down in December 2005 due to issues of maintenance and funding. The centre was equipped with four haemodialysis machines, one with online clearance monitoring and capable of Haemodiafiltration. It is serviced by an integrated three-level water treatment unit comprising of a water treatment plant with a Reverse Osmosis machine, and a fresenius Aqua.'In commissioning this haemodialysis unit it is the expectation that the quality of life of many Nigerians will be improved through the services rendered here,' Ekpelle said.The Nigerian Navy Haemodialysis Unit (NNHDU) is one of the centres for specialized care in the navy medical services. It offers haemodialysis, which is said to be a component of Renal Replacement Therapy (RRT) for kidney failure patients.The history of haemodialysis treatment in the navy dates back to 1994 when COBE laboratories Inc. donated a dialysis machine to the navy. The donation was said to have galvanized the drive of the navy to establish a Haemodialysis Centre.On the successful completion of the groundwork, the Centre was established in November 1994 under Rear Admiral Mike Akhigbe and Surgeon Commodore Augusta Ofili, the Director of Medical Services at the time.
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