In response to the alarming prevalence of kidney disease in Yobe State, the government has initiated a large-scale research project through the Biomedical Research Training Center (BioRTC) at Yobe State University. The study, which focuses on Damaturu and Gashua communities, aims to identify the root causes of the disease and develop effective interventions.
A multidisciplinary team of researchers—including physicians, renal nurses, laboratory scientists, geologists, and environmental scientists—has been deployed for sample collection across 2,000 households. This initiative is supervised by the Media and Disability Care Initiative (MEDCI), a non-governmental organization, and supported by international experts from the United Kingdom.
Speaking at the research launch, Dr. Mahmoud Bukar Maina, Special Adviser to the Governor on Science, Research, and Innovation, emphasized the state government’s commitment to understanding and combating the disease. He noted that Gashua and surrounding areas have recorded high mortality rates due to kidney-related illnesses, necessitating urgent scientific intervention.
Traditional and community leaders, including the Emir of Bade, Alh. Abubakar Umar Sulaiman, and Bade LGA Chairman, Hon. Ibrahim Babagana Yurema, have pledged full support for the initiative. Yurema, who revealed that six of his own family members succumbed to kidney disease despite undergoing dialysis, stressed the devastating impact on the local population.
The research is expected to provide crucial insights into environmental and genetic factors contributing to the crisis, paving the way for targeted medical and policy solutions to curb the rising cases of kidney disease in Yobe State.
