Researchers have decried the rising cases of kidney failure in Nigeria’s Northeast.
The rising health cases of kidney failure has become an additional burden for residents of Borno and Yobe states, who have battled Boko Haram conflict for over a decade.
Medical professionals are still facing a significant challenge unravelling the source of the sudden health challenge.
News Central’s Umaru Yakubu Kirawa reports from interviews with patients and their families, that the major concern has been the high cost of managing kidney failure in Nigeria.
The University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital and the State Specialist Hospital have been managing to cope with an overwhelming number of patients who visit to undergo dialysis every week.
About 18% of the population of residents in Maiduguri have chronic cases of kidney disease including kidney failure between the early stages up to the late stages.
In an effort to address the growing number of kidney diseases, the state government has allocated a budget in collaboration with research institutions towards the development of an action plan.
The collaboration has enabled the progress of scientific research, which has enabled experts to analyse data to better understand the causes, risk factors, proactive measures, and suitable treatments.
A Growing African Concern
Kidney failure and related illnesses are both a global and continental issue as other African countries are currently battling to provide and maintain healthcare resources for patients.
In 2021, Egypt’s President, Abdel Fattah El Sisi, directed his government to provide the support necessary for expanding the number of ideal kidney transplant centres for renal failure and treatment due to the rate of growing kidney failure and illnesses.
To relieve the suffering of kidney disease patients and improve their living conditions, the President also instructed the bodies concerned to carry out all necessary studies and embark on the executive steps needed to increase the number of kidney transplant centres nationwide.
Kidney Failure Guidelines
Recommendations such as regular medical checkups and sufficient intake of water have been proffered to reduce the burden.
Early this year, the Head of Medicine at Ho Teaching Hospital, Prof Yaw Awuku, strongly urged the Ghanaian government to extend healthcare coverage to include treatment of kidney disease within the framework of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
Medical experts also recommend that hypertensive and diabetic patients regularly check and manage their blood pressure.
They were also advised to desist from traditional medications and self-medication. Patients of kidney failure and other related illnesses were also asked to take drugs once prescribed, within proportion and dosage range as all drugs are poisons when taken out of proportion or range.
Advocacy was also regarded as one of the important tools to manage kidney illnesses as it continues to eliminate individuals in Nigeria’s northeast region.
