In Kano, Inadequate Dialysis Machines Threaten Lives of Hundreds of Kidney Disease Patients
- Kano state at present is facing one the most torrid times in its health sector with the outbreak of kidney disease in the state
- Findings reveals major specialists hospitals in the state are short of functional equipment to treat kidney patients
- Meanwhile, experts says working with few and partly functional equipment is a major setback for the state
Emerging reports have confirmed that the Kano state healthcare system is on the verge of a serious crisis following the incessant cases of kidney disease patients in the state.
According to a PRNigeria report published on Sunday, June 26, it was revealed that cases of chronic kidney disease (CKD) are on the rise in Kano.
Source: UGC
As gathered by Legit.ng, at least 200 kidney patients depend on only 12 functional dialysis machines at Kano’s two biggest Hospitals, the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, AKTH, and Abdullahi Wase Specialist Hospital.
Findings have it that about 160 patients with kidney-related ailments visit the Abdullahi Wase Specialist Hospital every week. Also, there are at least 15 new patients that come for dialysis, at the Specialist Hospital, every week.
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While at the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital there are up to 70 patients every week on the roster of ‘maintaining dialysis patients.’
But in a week, at least 40 dialysis treatments or more are being done, and some will be waiting.
Sadly, it was gathered that many of the few dialysis machines at the two biggest kidney treatment centres in Kano are not functioning.
Similarly, it was revealed that at the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, only eight of 20 dialysis machines work at the moment, and many patients suffering from CKD wait for more than 10 hours to get dialysis.
Medical expert reacts
Reacting to the situation, Professor Aliyu Abdu, who is a consultant Nephrologist and Head of the Renal Unit of the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, said it is very difficult to cope working with a few dialysis machines with many patients waiting for treatment.
He said:
“We used to have up to 20 dialysis machines, but because of inadequate funding and other challenges at the moment we don’t have more than 5 normal machines that are functioning.
“It is very difficult to cope. You’ll see patients queuing for 10 hours or 15 hours to get dialysis because when you put a patient on a dialysis machine, the patient must stay on the machine for at least 4 hours and then you need another 1 hour to clean and disinfect the machine before it is ready for the next patient. So you can see in a day, you cannot take more than 3 patients on a machine.”
At the Abdullahi Wase Specialist Hospital, regarded as one of the cheapest treatment centers for dialysis in Kano, only four of the six available dialysis machines work.
It was further gathered that in all the kidney treatments done at the hospital, the state Government subsidizes the dialysis fees. Yet, the number of patients suffering from CKD sighted at the unit waiting for dialysis is shockingly large.
The acting HOD of the Dialysis Unit at Abdullahi Wase Teaching Hospital, Usman Adamu, said:
“Dialysis in this hospital is very cheap because the first session costs 15,000 and subsequent sessions at 8,000 naira each which is still affordable compared to other centres.
“Here we have about four functional dialysis machines and two are about to be repaired. Similarly, at this hospital, we receive an average number of 60 to 80 patients per clinic and 160 patients every week with kidney-related diseases, among which many of them need dialysis. Also, every week, there are at least 15 new patients that come for dialysis in this hospital”.
Lady agrees to donate her kidney to Ekweremadu’s daughter
In another development, a lady, Miss Martha Uche says she is ready to donate her kidney to save the live of Ike Ekweremadu's daughter.
The Ilorin based lady said she has seen this in her dream and she is now ready to do the needful without anything attached.
Recall that the London Metropolitan Police charged Ekweremadu and his wife, Beatrice, with conspiracy to traffic a child to the UK.
Source: Legit.ng
