Abdulwasiu Akintunde 

The Chairman of the Gifting Volunteer Network, Belele David, shared the story of a 22 years old Abiodun Ayomide, whose life took a devastating turn from 2022 facing kidney challenge till 2024.

Freedom Times reports that the challenge began when Ayomide, then just 20, noticed unusual changes in his body.

Unsure of what was happening, he sought medical attention at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), where doctors recommended a series of tests.

The results were grim and Ayomide was diagnosed with kidney stones.

Ayomide stated that, “It all started in 2022. I knew something wasn’t right with my body. It felt strange, but I didn’t expect anything serious. After consulting a doctor at LASUTH, I went through some tests.”

“When the results came in, they showed I had kidney stones. I felt like my world had crumbled. Up until then, I had believed it was just a minor illness that could be easily managed.”

That same year, Ayomide began treatment to address the kidney stones, following his doctor’s advice and prescriptions.

His family purchased a variety of medications and continued to pursue additional tests in the hope of finding a solution.

However, despite their efforts and dedication to his medical care, Ayomide’s health continued to deteriorate.

“We did everything we could, we bought drugs, followed the doctor’s recommendations, and kept hoping things would improve. But nothing seemed to work. The situation remained the same despite all the tests and treatments we pursued,” he added.

Unfortunately, the turning point came in 2024. Despite the family’s best efforts to manage his condition, Ayomide’s kidney health declined rapidly, eventually leading to complete kidney failure.

The Chairman, David said, “2024 was the year everything came crashing down, Ayomide’s kidneys failed, and our worst fears became a reality.”

David further said consequences of his condition have been devastating for the family. Abiodun, now 22 years old, began receiving dialysis treatments at LASUTH’s Renal Dialysis Centre in February 2024.

“Dialysis has become a part of my life. I go for it twice a week, and each session costs us N45,000. My family is financially drained from the relentless expenses, and it has become a huge burden on them,” Ayomide shared.

Ayomide’s parents have been stretched beyond their means, trying to provide for his ongoing medical needs. Despite their best efforts, they are struggling to keep up with the overwhelming costs.

Following Ayomide’s future hanging in the balance, he has made a heartfelt plea for help to the public stating “I am only 22 years old, and I have my whole life ahead of me.

“I don’t want to die. I still have so many dreams I want to achieve, but my condition has put everything on hold. We are financially stranded, and I need assistance to survive.”

Doctors have informed Ayomide that his only chance for recovery is a kidney transplant. The procedure is critical to save his life, but the costs are far beyond the family’s reach.

In a desperate bid to raise the necessary funds, his family is reaching out to well-meaning Nigerians and the public at large to assist them in this life-saving effort.

As Ayomide fights for his life, the family hopes that the kindness and generosity of strangers will help them overcome this immense challenge.

Donations to support Ayomide’s kidney transplant and ongoing medical care can be made to the following account:

Account Name: Boluwatife Ayomide Abiodun  

Account Number: 1883552428  

Bank: Access Bank

In a development, the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency has urged ‘ponmo’ lovers in the state to consider reducing their consumption to keep the air quality of the state clean and healthy.

It was gathered, on Friday, that the General Manager of the environmental agency, Babatunde Ajayi, disclosed that burning of cow skin in different areas of the state releases carbon emissions into the air which are very harmful to humans.

Ponmo is made by burning cow skin. This involves burning the cow skin for an extended time on fire before it reaches the perfect texture. Thereafter, the roasted skin is washed several times and boiled for several hours to soften it.

According to cleanairfunf.org, air pollution caused by traffic and congestion, biomass fuel burning and shipping are major threats to sustainable growth in Lagos.

Speaking against the backdrop of the data on air quality that the state agency released, which showed that the air quality was below healthy, Ajayi, said agricultural emission contributes to poor air quality.

The data by LASEPA across the 22 areas measured found that the air quality in those areas ranged from moderate to unhealthy with Agege, Akoka, Ojo, and Ketu topping the list of areas with the most unhealthy air quality.

Revealing how agriculture causes massive carbon emissions in the state, he said, “Some areas are purely agricultural. This includes animal farming particularly the processing of hides and skin.

“The burning of cow skin in Agege would account for a huge amount of carbon emissions. So, if you like ponmo, you are causing a major problem to the air quality of Lagos.”

Ajayi added that vehicular emissions also contribute to the poor quality of air in the state. “Lagos has a very high volume of vehicles on the road, larger than most cities in Nigeria, so they are a major culprit,” he said.

“The second is industrial emission. Many of these areas have several kinds of industries. The entire Lagos has pockets of industries in different regions. So, in regions where you have high concentration, they will have poorer air quality.

“Thirdly, would be commercial or residential emissions from generators. Every household probably has a generator. The emissions from those generators depend on their quality, how frequently they are serviced as well as the health of the generator.”

Just as actions are being taken to curb noise pollution in the state, Ajayi said efforts are being made to address air pollution in the state. The general manager revealed that it had engaged the private and public sectors as well as individuals on ways to curb it.

The general manager while speaking with our correspondent suggested ways to contain the emission.

He advised realtors and house owners to plant trees as it is known that trees absorb some of the carbon that is emitted into the environment.

He further advised persons who own many cars to learn to limit the usage of cars by carpooling instead of using all available cars at once as it would reduce carbon emissions.

In the same way, he campaigned for the use of solar energy over generators insisting that solar energy is cheaper in the long run, especially with the high cost of diesel.

“So, instead of putting on generators for seven hours, if you have solar panels run for three hours, that saves us,” he said.

On the impact of bad air quality on residents, Ajayi, who is a medical doctor, remarked that unclean air increases the risk of one suffering from asthma, runny nose as well as cough while it can also lead to chronic respiratory issues if not effectively managed in the long run.

The state government had earlier called on residents of the state to be cautious and make conscious choices as data reveals moderate and unhealthy Air Quality Index in some parts of the state.

Data released on Thursday by AirQo Africa revealed that parts of Lagos State, including Lagos Port, Apapa; Ita Elewa, Ikorodu; LASEPA, Ikeja; Oshodi; Ikeja General Hospital Road; UNILAG Research Lab; LSDPC Estate, Ebute Metta; Egbeda and Ikotun had a moderate air quality index, which is said to be fair but might affect sensitive individuals.

(PUNCH)