Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State has taken the fight against kidney disease affecting the state to the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
The governor, in a meeting with renowned epidemiologists, said the state lost many people living on the banks of River Yobe to kidney failure, and many more are now patients of the disease.
“The figure of people dying and others as patients is very worrisome and that calls for quick action to save the communities.
“I am equally worried that a large number of the productive population are getting more affected,” he said.
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The governor said some data have been generated by the Yobe State Teaching Hospital to facilitate and fast-track research and diagnosis for advanced study into the cause of the disease.
“I am optimistic that you would partner with us to find a solution to the disease to save our people and others in the neighbouring states along the banks of the river,” he said.
Prof. Neil Peace, the internationally celebrated Professor of Epidemiology at the London School of Hygiene, said the data generated would be used to establish the causative agents, which would push for finding a solution.
“We have conducted studies in Malawi and Kenya in Africa, Nicaragua, Sri Lanka, and India, we will work with you too to establish the cause of the disease,” Prof. Neil assured.
He said though research on such diseases is very expensive, the collaboration would look for international funding to assist the research.
