Whereas the Yobe state government provides free kidney dialysis service to patients in the state, the recent fixing of a maximum of ₦12,000 charge for kidney dialysis in some federal government tertiary medical facilities is a praiseworthy gesture.
The price reduction by the federal government and the free service in Yobe state are particularly beneficial to those who are severely afflicted by Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) which may necessitate financially-burdensome three dialysis sessions weekly.
Experts say there are several procedures for treating CKD namely blood pressure control; diabetes management; treatment of Infection; dietary change; fluid management and life style modification. Dialysis and kidney transplant become necessary in the most severe cases of CKD.
A report by Grandville Medical and Laser Centre, Lagos. affirmed that, “Kidney failure is expensive and deadly. Dialysis and kidney transplants are costly, leaving many patients unable to afford treatment. Many people with kidney disease die (in Nigeria) due to lack of funds for ongoing care.”
The report said that 25 million Nigerians are suffering from CKD, requiring expensive treatment. Some private hospitals in affluent Lagos charge anything from ₦50,000 to ₦100,000 per dialysis session. The price is obviously beyond patients living below the poverty line.
A media statement on August 20, 2025, by the Deputy Director (Information) in the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Mr. Alaba Balogun, indicates that the ₦12,000 charge per kidney dialysis session is available at the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano; University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital; Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital; University of Jos Teaching Hospital and the National Hospital, Abuja.
Other hospitals in the list were Federal Medical Centre, Ebute Metta, Lagos; University College Hospital, Ibadan; University of Benin Teaching Hospital; Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa; Federal Teaching Hospital, Owerri and the Federal Medical Centre, Abakaliki.
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The inclusion of the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH) came after Solacebase, the Kano-based online newspaper, highlighted its loud exclusion in the initial list.
The wise inclusion of the hospital will benefit the multitude of kidney patients accessing kidney dialysis there. The AKTH has dozens of dialysis machines, sufficient consultant nephrologists and urologists, adequate nephrology nurses and many qualified technicians. It has two Kidney Dialysis Centres built and equipped by Kano businessmen, Alhaji Aminu Alhassan Dantata and Alhaji Aliyu Sa’idu Bebeji.
The new Aliyu Sa’idu Bebeji Kidney Dialysis Centre is a self-sustaining Waqf or Islamic Foundation facility. It is equipped with a 20,000-litre capacity water treatment plant, equipment for producing disinfectants and a dedicated power supply system.
Head of the Centre, RN Bashir Ahmed said the Alhassan Dantata Dialysis Centre has 12 blood dialysis machines. With the numerous dialysis machines in the two centres, AKTH is positioned to continue serving the large number of patients thronging the Hospital daily for kidney dialysis.
The more affordable ₦12,000 for the four-hour dialysis session has made an immediate impact on patients. RN Bashir Ahmed said they have observed that patients who previously could afford dialysis only once a week now afford it twice and even thrice weekly.
One can testify that the initiative has given real direct relief to regular citizens who struggle to raise the required funding for kidney dialysis.
Sadly, kidney diseases alongside diabetes, hypertension and depression are prevalent in the country. Reports by various researchers, including that sponsored by the administration of Mai Mala Buni in Yobe state, portray a gloomy picture of CKD prevalence in the country. Yobe is rated as the largest state-funded disease research project in Africa.
The researchers investigated the underlying causes of kidney failure in communities along the banks of River Yobe. Findings attributed the cases of CKD, diabetes, high blood pressure, especially among fishing families, to factors like inadequate nutrition and poor sanitation, harmful chemicals and heavy metals in untreated drinking water.
The Yobe state’s treasury bears the ₦50,000 per dialysis session. The Mai Mala Buni administration spends over ₦360 million yearly on free kidney dialysis.
The Chief Medical Director, Yobe State University Teaching Hospital, Dr. Baba Waru Goni, said more than 60 dialysis are conducted weekly.
“This is a lifeline for patients who would otherwise be unable to afford the treatment,” Dr. Goni noted.
He added, “Government bears that cost because there is no way an individual or a family already struggling with the financial devastation that goes with renal failure can afford this.”
It was reported that over 50,000 free kidney dialysis were sponsored by the state government in the five years to June 2024.
Salisu Na’inna Dambatta,
Kano, Kano state
0810 663 2271