By Elizabeth Olagoke Abai
For Adewole Ibrahim Abiola, a 35-year-old chronic kidney disease (CKD) patient, illness did not only bring physical suffering, it exposed deep cracks in Nigeria’s healthcare system.
What began as a seemingly routine health challenge in early 2024 soon spiralled into a life-threatening condition, marked by delayed diagnosis, costly treatment, and an uncertain future.
“It all started in 2024 when I fell ill,” Abiola recalled. “I took medications, but I wasn’t getting better.”
Initially treated for malaria and a suspected thyroid condition in Lagos, his health continued to deteriorate. By February, he had contacted a nurse for treatment, but there was no improvement. In March, his condition worsened, requiring intravenous drips and injections.
Despite these interventions, the underlying illness remained undetected.
“My sister said it didn’t look like malaria or thyroid issues. That was when my family insisted I return to Ibadan for proper care,” he said.
Late Diagnosis
Upon arriving in Ibadan, Abiola sought treatment at Life Shield Hospital, where he was referred for further tests at a diagnostic centre. On June 20, 2024, the results revealed alarming indicators—critically elevated urea and creatinine levels and a blood pressure reading of about 200 mmHg, confirming severe hypertension and kidney failure.
Following consultations, he was admitted to Mercy Hospital and later referred to the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, as his condition worsened.
“I became unconscious at some point. My family and friends were running helter-skelter to bring me back,” he recounted.
After several tests at UCH, he was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease. Dialysis was immediately recommended as a life-saving intervention—yet accessing it proved to be another battle.
“That was the beginning of my nightmare,” he said.
Delays and Systemic Challenges
According to Abiola, he waited nearly two weeks without dialysis after the recommendation due to infrastructural challenges within the hospital’s dialysis unit.
“From power issues to faulty machines, the dialysis section was never stable,” he said. “We spent two weeks without treatment before I was discharged to start dialysis elsewhere.”
On August 9, 2024, he commenced haemodialysis at a private kidney centre in Ibadan. Medical experts advised him to undergo at least three sessions weekly and begin preparations for a kidney transplant.
The Crushing Cost of Survival
Since his diagnosis, Abiola has undergone dialysis in multiple facilities across Ibadan and Lagos, including PurpleMed Specialist Medical and Kidney Centre, Zenith Medical and Kidney Centre, St. Nicholas Hospital, and Rencare Dialysis Centre.
Each dialysis session costs between ₦57,000 and ₦65,000, excluding medications and emergency interventions.
“As recommended, I am supposed to undergo dialysis three times a week,” he explained. “But there are times I cannot afford the sessions.”
Between September 2024 and March 2026, he estimates that he has spent approximately ₦15.9 million on dialysis alone.
“Sometimes the cheaper centres are not available, and sometimes I feel like I am already gone,” he said.
Beyond dialysis, he also spends heavily on medications, including antihypertensive drugs, iron supplements, erythropoietin injections, and other supportive treatments. Complications such as severe headaches and unstable blood sugar levels occasionally increase the cost of care.
“The dialysis itself is a challenge. While on the machine, complications can occur, and that attracts additional expenses,” he added.
A Race Against Time
Although dialysis keeps him alive, doctors have advised that it is only a temporary solution. A kidney transplant remains his best chance of survival.
Medical reports from transplant specialists indicate that the procedure currently costs about ₦50 million—a figure far beyond his financial capacity.
“The kidney transplant is about ₦50 million now. How can I afford it when dialysis alone is draining my resources?” he asked.
In September 2024, St. Nicholas Hospital issued a medical report seeking financial assistance on his behalf, underscoring the urgency of his condition.
Yet, nearly two years later, the funds remain out of reach.
Emotional and Psychological Toll
Beyond the physical and financial burden, Abiola’s condition has taken a toll on his mental health.
“This is beginning to put me into depression,” he admitted. “Sometimes I cannot afford the sessions. Sometimes the machines are not available. It is overwhelming.”
His experience reflects the struggles of many Nigerians living with chronic kidney disease, who often face delayed diagnoses, limited treatment options, and exorbitant medical costs.
A Reflection of Nigeria’s Healthcare Challenges
Nigeria’s healthcare system continues to grapple with persistent challenges, including underfunding, inadequate infrastructure, and a shortage of medical personnel. Public hospitals are frequently overstretched, forcing patients to rely on expensive private facilities.
Data shows that Nigeria allocates about six per cent of its national budget to health—far below the 15 per cent benchmark agreed upon in the Abuja Declaration. The country also faces a severe manpower deficit, with a doctor-to-patient ratio estimated at approximately 1:9,000.
Rising healthcare costs further compound the crisis, pushing many citizens into poverty each year. While initiatives such as the National Health Insurance Authority aim to expand coverage, only a fraction of Nigerians currently benefit from government-supported schemes.
For kidney disease patients, the consequences are particularly severe, as dialysis and transplantation remain largely unaffordable for the average citizen.
A Plea for Survival
Today, Abiola continues his fight for survival, sustained by dialysis and the hope of receiving a life-saving transplant. His story highlights the urgent need for reforms in Nigeria’s renal care system, including subsidised treatment, improved infrastructure, and expanded health insurance coverage.
“This is my reality,” he said. “Dialysis is not a cure, it is only keeping me alive. What I need is a transplant and support to survive.”
As he searches for financial assistance, his ordeal raises pressing questions about healthcare access and affordability in Nigeria. For Abiola and countless others facing similar battles, survival remains uncertain in a system struggling to sustain them.
