1 Zaria Road, PMB 3452, Kano.

info@aminukanokidneytrust.org

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) Is increasing and is becoming a major public health problem globally with more than 1 million people on renal replacement therapy and would reach 2 million by 2010. The economic burden of CKD is enormous with the United States spending US$15.64 billon in 1997 and this is expected to reach US$28 billion by
2010.

The kidney is responsible for filtering toxic substances, excess substrates and waste products in the blood.

Apart from these, it produces erythropoietin which helps to form red blood cells for the replacement of expired ones.

It participates in the control of calcium which determines the strength of bones in the body.

It also participates in the control of blood pressure.

Above all it controls the total amount of body water by filtering or retaining it.

Hypertension and diabetes mellitus are the most common cause of kidney failure in sub-Saharan Africa.

Other causes are; nephrotic syndrome seen in children and glomerulonephritis, urine retention (due to prostate enlargement, stones in the kidneys, urethral stricture or bladder neck obstruction in children), skin lighteners, and long term ingestion of analgesics.

Good control of hypertension and diabetes mellitus and avoidance of, treatment of above condition and seeing a doctor before taking any drugs as well as annual medical check up are important steps to avoid getting kidney failure.

It requires the loss of functions of both kidneys before the condition occurs as one kidney is able to cope as is seen when one kidney is removed after an accident or in situation of cancer of the kidney.
The treatments of kidney failure are:
Haemodialysis is the most common method but is not a cure
Peritoneal dialysis especially for children
Kidney transplant

Haemodialysis is expensive, costing N150,000.00 to N500,000.00 every month in Nigerian hospitals excluding Erythropoietin injections weekly, additional N12, 000:00 (in Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital much more in the hospitals). There are very few centres with inadequate number of dialysis machines in Nigeria.
Most families cannot afford this expensive temporary treatment and the ultimate cure of CKD is always a renal transplant.
The cost of renal transplant world-wide is in the range of N1.5 million in AKTH to N12 million in developed countries. It is however free in Sudan and some hospitals in Pakistan.

Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital has established Aminu Kano Kidney foundation Trust to help indigent (Poor) patients to provide free dialysis and transplant to those who cannot afford and subsidize those who can afford the treatment.

Your donation will help the Trust provide this vital service to all Nigerians.