By: Our Correspondent
MAIDUGURI, North-West, Nigeria – As the state owned Specialist Hospital begins kidney dialysis, Governor Babagana Zulum has directed the Commissioner of Health to put in place measures that will make the dialysis procedure free for patients.
He gave the directive when he visited the Kidney Dialysis Centre at the State Specialist Hospital in Maiduguri
on Tuesday.
Zulum also directed the state’s Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation to bring together relevant 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 the state.
According to him, this is to reduce burdens faced by low income citizens and their families who pay N30,000 per session.
The Governor added that government will fully fund the research with the hope that findings and recommendations will guide in addressing the cause of rising kidney diseases rather than limiting focus on dialysis and other forms of treatment.
The Borno helmsman who witnessed the dialysis sessions being conducted by medical experts; empathized with the patients and offered financial support to them.
The state Commissioner of Health, Dr Salisu Kwaya-Bura, in company of the Chief Medical Director of the Hospital Management Board and other medical experts who conducted the Governor round the facility informed him that the Centre has procured consumables to enable the continuation of the dialysis for at least six months for over 3,000 patients.
Dr. Kwaya-Bura was given the go ahead to send indigenous doctors on specialized kidney management trainings and also, to identify reputatable health institutions in Nigeria or abroad, to establish technical and specialized partnership that will enable kidney transplant in hospitals owned by the state.
Zulum said the partnership will not only save lives but reduce dependence on foreign medical tourism, rather attract medical tourists to the state.
