In a move to alleviate the suffering of kidney failure patients in the Federal Capital Territory, the Stanley Iye Lawson (SIL) Foundation has donated two dialysis machines and several consumables to the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada.

The donation was part of the foundation’s efforts to provide support to vulnerable Nigerians, particularly those affected by chronic health conditions.

Speaking while handing over the machines to officials of the hospital yesterday, Chief Executive Officer of the SIL Foundation, Ubile Charity Lawson, said the decision to donate dialysis machines was prompted by the urgent need for better access to dialysis care in Nigerian hospitals.

Lawson lamented the immense challenge posed by the high cost of dialysis, which she said can be unaffordable for many patients.

She recalled that the foundation had donated similar machines to other hospitals, including Bagada General Hospital in Lagos, Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), and the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH).

Lawson said, “We came here just to give hope to those who desperately need dialysis care. They need kidney treatment, and we’re hoping that if the needy can receive it for free, we will be very happy.

“We’re hoping and praying that the management will be able to provide treatments for free. But if necessary, if they have to charge, it should be very minimal. That’s our hope.”

She also called on the government to subsidize kidney treatment, saying it will go a long way to reduce the number of deaths from kidney-related diseases.

Receiving the donations, Chairman of the Medical Advisory Committee and Head of Clinicals, UATH, Dr. Bob Ukonu described the gesture as a much-needed lifeline for kidney patients.

He noted the strain dialysis places on both patients and healthcare providers, especially given the high cost of treatment, while further lamenting the cost of alternative treatments like renal transplants, which he said can run into millions of Naira.

The medical practitioner said, “We have discovered recently that we are experiencing a high influx of patients with chronic kidney failure, and part of their treatment requires hemodialysis. Because it’s not cheap, it has placed a significant burden on our patients. Most of them, even the wealthy ones, after undergoing dialysis two or three times a week, will soon run out of money.

“The alternative, renal transplant, is also not affordable. As of today, a renal transplant in Nigeria costs no less than 18 to 20 million naira. Having this charitable support from the Foundation is a huge relief for us.”

Also speaking, a nephrologist at UATH, Dr. Manmak Mamven, said that the additional machines would ease the burden on patients who currently have to wait for extended periods to receive dialysis.

Mamven explained the severe financial strain dialysis places on patients, revealing that each session costs up to 50,000 Naira, and patients often need three sessions per week.

The nephrologist called on other philanthropists and the government to do more to make dialysis more affordable and accessible to those in need.