How Yobe policy provides succour for kidney patients

Some interventions by the Yobe state government  has provided  succour for people suffering from kidney failure.

The state governor , Mai Mala Buni recently approved the upward review of the monthly standing payments for free dialysis treatment at the Yobe State University Teaching Hospital Damaturu, from N5 million to N10 million monthly.

Findings reveal that  over 100 free dialysis sessions are conducted weekly at the Yobe State University Teaching Hospital in Damaturu.

Many cases of kidney ailment are being recorded in the northern part of Yobe State – in Nguru, Jakusko, Bade, and Karasuwa LGAs – which has prompted the governor to seek collaboration with experts towards identifying the cause.

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Buni, has solicited the assistance of the Nigerian Association of Hydrogeologists (NAH) in investigating the wholesomeness of underground water in some parts of the state.

 He said a component of heavy metals in underground water is suspected to be responsible for some major health challenges affecting the people, and compelling the state government to intervene.

He has also visited prominent hospitals in European countries, seeking collaboration towards finding a lasting solution to the problem.

Kalli Mustapha, a kidney patient, said he sold his house before he was told about the development.

He said, ‘‘I was having N1.5 million dialysis sessions when the money finished, and I had to sell half of my house until I was told of the free dialysis here.

“I was transferred from the Federal Medical Centre Nguru to the Yobe State Teaching Hospital here in Damaturu; they are conducting dialysis for us here for free.

‘‘It is now about 10 months since I was diagnosed with the disease. We are receiving good medications here. Before coming here, there was a time I spent over N200,000 just for an arteriovenous fistula installation,’’ he added.

Aliyu Abdulkadir, Head of the Dialysis Unit, Yobe State Teaching Hospital, Damaturu, said, ‘‘We are dialyzing almost 100 sessions; even for patients that are not from the state. This hospital has already approved giving three free dialysis sessions.”

The Chief Medical Director of the Yobe State Teaching Hospital Damaturu, Dr. Baba Waru-Goni, said but for the policy, many patients would have died as they could not afford the expensive treatment.

‘‘This service has brought a lot of succour and relief for both individuals and their families; as well as the communities. Kidney disease is a very expensive disease that can drain the resources of individuals, families and communities,” he added.

The state government assured that it is taking measures to deal with the root cause of the disease in the state, adding that the intervention deployed is designed to bring some succour to the kidney patients.