A surge in kidney disease cases has ravaged several communities in Jigawa State, claiming countless lives and leaving families devastated. The development is compounding the health crisis in the rural communities.
During a visit to Mezan community in Kafin Hausa Town Local Government Area it was gathered that about 13 people have recently died of kidney disease. Hussaini Ibrahim Kafi reports
Worsening Health Crisis
Jigawa State is facing a worsening health crisis as rural communities experience a surge in chronic kidney disease (CKD) and kidney failure, leading to many deaths. Despite the rising cases, the exact cause of the epidemic remains unknown, leaving residents in affected areas desprate for answers and treatment.
In communities like Yan Gobir, Turakawa, Sarawa, Kabi, Lafiya, Birkidi, Mezan, and Gafayede in Kafin Hausa Town Local Government Area, many families have been devastated by the loss of loved ones.
Abdullahi Salihu, a farmer from Mezan, has lost four children and both parents to kidney failure. Now battling the disease himself, Salihu, 45, faces overwhelming financial challenges, unable to afford the treatment that could save his life.
His story is pathetically common in the community as 13 people have died of kidney disease within the past year.
“I spent over a million naira trying to save my son, but I couldn’t,” said Salihu, who also struggles to cough out the 20,000 naira per dialysis session, three times a week, required to manage his condition.
Medical Professionals Frustrated by the Epidemic
Medical professionals in the region are equally frustrated. Dr. ISAH MUSA, a senior medical officer at Kafin Hausa General Hospital, noted that despite the rising number of cases, the government has yet to fund comprehensive research to determine the cause of the disease.
“We don’t know what’s causing this, but we’re seeing more and more cases, especially among young people,” Dr. Musa said. “Without proper studies, we’re fighting this blind.”
220 Cases of Kidney Failure
From January 2023 to the time of this report, Kafin Hausa General Hospital has recorded over 220 cases of kidney failure. The hospital, however, lacks a permanent record system for tracking CKD cases, leaving gaps in data collection.
The hospital’s recording officer, ADAMU USMAN, said, “We don’t keep formal records of chronic kidney disease cases, as it’s not part of the diseases we track in our database. Yet, we’ve seen an overwhelming number of CKD cases in recent years.”
BULAMAN KAFIN HAUSA, YUNUSA MUHAMMAD SULAIMAN, confirmed that CKD has been a growing concern in the community.
“We’ve been dealing with chronic kidney disease in local communities for over a decade,” Sulaiman said. “Despite patients’ best efforts to manage the disease with dialysis, many have unfortunately died.”
Sulaiman noted that while CKD cases have been present for years, the situation has worsened in the last four. “We reached out to both the state and federal governments for help as the crisis intensified,” he added.
Research On Our Food and Water
“They conducted research on our food and water sources about two years ago, but we haven’t received the findings.
“The investigation covered various aspects of our daily lives,” he said. “We believe the government is working toward finding a solution, but the increasing number of deaths from kidney failure continues to haunt our community.”
ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS
Residents and health workers suspect environmental factors, including contaminated water, as possible contributors. The region’s proximity to rivers and floodplains, used for irrigation and fishing, is believed to be a potential risk factor for kidney disease, according to a report in the Nigerian Journal of Medicine.
The research highlighted that family medical history plays a significant role in the development of kidney failure, particularly in individuals with a family history of diabetes mellitus and hypertension. These conditions are strongly linked to the onset of kidney disease.
In an interview with Dr. NURA GARBA, a medical laboratory scientist at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, pointed out that exposure to nephrotoxic pollutants—found in food, water, and air—could also contribute to kidney failure. This adds an environmental dimension to the health crisis in affected communities.
Garba stressed that unless the state and federal governments take urgent action to identify the root causes of the disease, patients will continue to suffer and die. “With many unable to afford the high cost of dialysis, let alone kidney transplants, the situation is dire,” he warned.
Government’s Response Has Been Slow
Despite the urgency, the government’s response has been slow. While free dialysis services have been introduced in larger towns, most patients in rural areas struggle to access them due to distance and transportation costs.
For families like Salihu’s, the emotional and financial toll of the disease is unbearable. Many residents are selling their belongings, including crops and livestock, to pay for treatment that offers little relief.
During a visit to the female ward of Kafin Hausa Hospital, 69-year-old Hauwa Aliyu looks fatigued after receiving dialysis. Her cheeks and legs were swollen, signs of her advanced chronic kidney failure.
“I found out I had kidney failure around April this year,” Hauwa said, her voice weak. “I receive dialysis twice a week, and each session costs N20,000.”
Her son, Musa Aliyu, 26, a small-scale farmer, has been struggling to cover the expenses for his mother’s treatment.
Financial Strain
The financial strain forced him to sell this year’s agricultural produce to pay for her care.
“Life has been incredibly hard since my mother fell ill,” Musa explained. “She’s had around 17 dialysis sessions so far, but the relief is temporary. Sometimes it feels like the treatment hasn’t helped at all.”
Musa added, “I can barely afford the cost of medications and other supplies, let alone the ongoing dialysis.”
Way Forward
Responding to the growing crisis of kidney disease in Jigawa, the state’s Commissioner of Health, Dr. MUHAMMED KAINUWA, announced plans to establish five kidney dialysis centers across the state to improve healthcare for those suffering from kidney-related diseases. These centers will be strategically located in the state’s major emirates—Dutse, Hadejia, Kazaure, Ringim, and Gumel.
“Governor Namadi is dedicated to ensuring that no one in Jigawa dies due to a lack of medical care,” Dr. Kainuwa said. “His goal is to make healthcare services both accessible and affordable for all citizens of the state.”
Despite these efforts, the majority of kidney failure patients reside in rural areas, where access to healthcare is limited.
This reporter’s investigation revealed that many patients in rural Jigawa must travel long distances to reach Hadejia General Hospital, one of the few facilities offering free dialysis services.
