‘Using bleaching creams can cause kidney failure’

The use of bleaching creams has been identified as one of the major causes of kidney failure, alongside smoking and the indiscriminate use of drugs, among other vices.

This was revealed on Thursday by the Kidney Care and Transplant Trust, a non-governmental kidney protection foundation when they paid a courtesy visit to the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero, at the Emir’s palace in Kano.

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Chairman of the foundation, Ibrahim Abdullahi Haruna, who said the visit was to brief the Emir on the foundation’s preparations to launch an appeal fund for assisting patients suffering from kidney diseases, added that research has indicated that the number of those suffering from this disease is gradually increasing globally, particularly in Nigeria.

“Some of the commonly identified causes of kidney failure include hypertension, diabetes mellitus, prostate diseases for males, smoking, taking drugs not prescribed by doctors or herbal medicines and use of bleaching cream to change skin colour.

“So, your highness, this foundation is determined to support the less-privileged patients of this disease with their weekly dialysis and transplant because it is very exorbitant,” said Haruna.

The Chairman said the foundation will reach out to philanthropists within and outside the state to achieve its set objective.

Responding, the Emir of Kano Bayero thanked the foundation for the move and promised to give all the needed support.

The Emir who was represented by one of his District Heads, the Madakin Kano, Yusuf Nabahani, lamented that the disease affects all classes of people irrespective of social status or age.

He also cautioned people to abide by the recommendations of medical experts on ways of maintaining the health of their kidneys.