Damaturu: The Yobe State University Teaching Hospital (YSUTH) in Damaturu has revealed that it spends N360 million annually on its free dialysis programme. The Chief Medical Director (CMD) of YSUTH, Prof. Baba Goni, shared this information during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the hospital allocates N30 million every month to run the programme, which has been in operation since 2017. Prof. Goni highlighted that the hospital conducts between 600 and 700 free haemodialysis sessions monthly. He noted that the cost of dialysis per session at other teaching hospitals is approximately N50,000, excluding additional expenses for drugs, laboratory investigations, and potential admissions.
Prof. Goni stated that the state government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with a reputable company to supply dialysis consumables, ensuring the programme’s sustainability. Additionally, the hospital offers free fistula surgeries to provide vascular access for patients with Chronic Kidney Disease, involving vascular surgeons for these procedures at the hospital’s expense.
To enhance its capabilities, YSUTH recently acquired a water treatment plant and five additional dialysis machines, increasing its total to 11 functional machines. Plans are underway to establish another dialysis centre at the Specialists’ Hospital in Gashua, a region heavily affected by kidney disease, with the project included in the 2026 budget.
Prof. Goni mentioned recent negotiations in Ghana with partners to bring in dialysis machines and to train nurses and medical engineers for their maintenance. This initiative aims to alleviate the inconvenience and transportation costs for patients traveling to Damaturu for treatment.
A preliminary report on the 2025 kidney disease research conducted in Gashua will soon be submitted to Gov. Mai Mala Buni. The CMD emphasized the importance of thoroughly scrutinizing the report to avoid premature conclusions that could impact the economic livelihood of the communities involved.
Lastly, Prof. Goni noted that an MoU was signed in 2018 between the state and the Urology and Nephrology Centre in Mansoura, Egypt, for training YSUTH’s doctors and specialists in kidney transplants. Although the programme was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, efforts are underway to resume its implementation.