Borno governor orders free dialysis for kidney patients

Governor Zulum chatting with a patient at the dialysis centre

State Governor, Babagana Zulum ‎has directed the Ministry of Health to offer free dialysis and research on causes of kidney failures among patients in the state.

He also ordered the Commissioner of Health, Dr. Salisu Kwaya-Bura to implement the transplant of kidneys for patients at the state Specialist Hospital in Maiduguri next year.

Zulum gave the directive while inspecting the medical equipment and facilities at the hospital’s Kidney Centre, saying, “With the commencement of kidney dialysis in Maiduguri, I direct the Commissioner of Health to ensure kidney transplants for patients in the state.”

He said all kidney dialysis should be carried out free of charge, adding that the measure was to reduce the pains of people who could not afford N30, 000 for each kidney dialysis session.

The new kidney centre was established at the Maiduguri Specialist Hospital early this year by his predecessor, Kashim Shettima, who is now a senator.

The Governor was conducted round the facilities by the Health  Commissioner, in company of Chief Medical Director ‎of the Hospitals Management Board and other medical experts who informed him that the centre has procured consumables to enable the continuation of the dialysis for at least six months for more than 3,000 patients.

The Commissioner and other officials were ‎given the go ahead by the Governor to send indigenous medical doctors on specialized kidney management trainings and to identify reputable health institutions whether in Nigeria or abroad, to establish technical and specialized partnership that would enable kidney transplant in hospitals owned by the state.

Zulum said the partnership would not only save lives but reduce dependence on foreign medical tourism and attract medical tourists to Borno State

The governor also authorised the state’s Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation to assemble critical stakeholders in health, education and water sectors “to speedily invite competent researchers or identify, study and expand any existing research into the main cause(s) of kidney diseases that seem to be on the rise in Borno State.”

The governor, who took the time to witness dialysis sessions, gave financial support to all the patients that undergoing the procedures.