Yobe Government Offers 800 Free Dialysis Sessions Monthly to Kidney Patients

The Yobe State Government has announced that it provides 800 free dialysis sessions every month to patients living with chronic kidney disease, as part of efforts to reduce healthcare costs and improve access to specialised medical treatment.

The Chief Medical Director of Yobe State University Teaching Hospital (YSUTH), Professor Baba Waru Goni, disclosed the development while presenting the hospital’s progress report on major healthcare interventions to the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Mohammed Goje.

The initiative is intended to support patients who require regular dialysis to manage their condition, particularly those who struggle to afford the high cost of treatment.

According to reports published on October 23, 2026, the programme forms part of the state government’s broader efforts to strengthen healthcare delivery and make essential medical services more accessible to residents.

Government Seeks to Reduce the Financial Burden on Kidney Patients

Chronic kidney disease can place considerable financial pressure on patients and their families because treatment often involves repeated hospital visits, medical investigations, prescribed medications and ongoing monitoring.

For patients whose kidneys can no longer adequately perform their functions, dialysis helps remove waste products and excess fluid from the blood.

However, the cost of receiving this treatment regularly can make it difficult for some patients to maintain the recommended treatment schedule.

The Yobe State Government’s provision of 800 free dialysis sessions monthly is designed to ease some of these financial difficulties and help patients access essential treatment.

The programme operates through Yobe State University Teaching Hospital in Damaturu, where patients receive specialised medical care.

Professor Goni explained that the government’s intervention provides important support for people living with chronic kidney disease, many of whom depend on regular dialysis to manage their condition.

The initiative also highlights the role state governments can play in improving access to specialised healthcare for people living with long-term illnesses.

Yobe State University Teaching Hospital Leads the Initiative

Yobe State University Teaching Hospital is one of the state’s important healthcare institutions, providing specialised medical services to residents and patients from other parts of the region.

Through the free dialysis programme, the hospital helps patients access treatment that might otherwise place significant pressure on their household finances.

The hospital’s management has also continued working to improve its diagnostic services and treatment capacity.

During his presentation, Professor Goni highlighted the importance of sustained government support in maintaining healthcare services and improving the hospital’s ability to meet growing demand.

He also noted that the hospital offers Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Computed Tomography (CT) scan services at affordable rates.

These diagnostic services help doctors investigate different medical conditions and support clinical decision-making.

The hospital reportedly attracts patients from other states across the region and beyond because of the availability of specialised investigations at comparatively affordable rates.

Understanding the Importance of Dialysis

Dialysis is a medical treatment that performs some of the functions normally carried out by healthy kidneys.

The kidneys help remove waste products and excess fluid from the blood while maintaining a balance of essential minerals and electrolytes.

When kidney function becomes severely impaired, waste products and fluid can accumulate in the body, potentially leading to serious complications.

Dialysis helps manage these problems by filtering the blood through specialised equipment or, in some circumstances, through the lining of the abdomen.

The two main forms are haemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis.

Haemodialysis uses a machine and a filter to remove waste and excess fluid from the blood. Peritoneal dialysis uses the lining of the abdomen as a filtering membrane.

The appropriate treatment depends on a patient’s medical condition, circumstances and the advice of qualified healthcare professionals.

Patients receiving haemodialysis commonly require multiple sessions each week, depending on their treatment plan.

Consequently, even when an individual session is subsidised or provided free of charge, the need for repeated treatment can create substantial costs for patients and their families.

By providing 800 free sessions monthly, Yobe State is seeking to make this essential service more accessible.

However, the announced figure refers to treatment sessions rather than 800 individual patients. One patient may require several sessions in a month.

Government Reaffirms Commitment to Healthcare Development

Responding to the hospital’s progress report, Secretary to the State Government Dr Mohammed Goje commended the hospital’s management and medical personnel for their contributions to healthcare delivery.

He acknowledged the financial and emotional difficulties faced by patients living with chronic illnesses and their families.

Goje said the government recognised the importance of making essential medical services more accessible and affordable to residents.

He also assured the hospital’s management of continued government support for efforts aimed at improving healthcare delivery across the state.

The Secretary to the State Government urged the hospital to ensure the effective use of available resources while maintaining professional standards and improving the quality of services offered to patients.

He further encouraged the institution to strengthen its operational efficiency and explore strategic partnerships that could expand access to specialised treatment.

Such partnerships can be important for hospitals that require specialised equipment, trained personnel, reliable medical supplies and ongoing technical support.

The government said its broader healthcare investments are intended to improve residents’ wellbeing and reduce the financial pressure associated with accessing medical services.

Affordable Diagnostic Services Expand Access to Treatment

In addition to the dialysis programme, Yobe State University Teaching Hospital provides MRI and CT scan services at affordable rates.

These technologies are used to produce detailed images of structures inside the body, helping healthcare professionals investigate injuries, illnesses and other medical conditions.

MRI uses magnetic fields and radio waves to generate images, while CT scanning uses X-rays to produce cross-sectional images of the body.

Both technologies can support the diagnosis and assessment of a wide range of conditions when clinically indicated.

Access to these services can be particularly important for patients who would otherwise need to travel outside their communities or state to obtain specialised investigations.

The hospital’s management said the availability of these services has attracted patients from different parts of the country.

Continued investment in diagnostic facilities can help strengthen hospitals’ capacity to identify medical problems and guide treatment decisions.

Nevertheless, access to equipment must be accompanied by trained staff, proper maintenance, reliable supplies and appropriate patient care.

The state government’s emphasis on healthcare infrastructure and service delivery therefore remains an important part of its wider health sector agenda.

Sustaining the Free Dialysis Programme

Maintaining a free dialysis programme requires substantial financial and operational support.

Hospitals need dialysis machines, trained medical personnel, reliable water treatment systems, medical consumables and appropriate infection-control procedures.

They must also ensure that equipment is maintained and that patients receive treatment according to their clinical needs.

In September 2026, earlier reports indicated that the Yobe State Government spent approximately ₦360 million annually on its free dialysis programme.

At that time, Professor Goni said the hospital was providing between 600 and 700 free haemodialysis sessions each month.

The latest announcement indicates a provision of 800 sessions monthly, suggesting an increase in the number of sessions being offered under the programme.

The reported annual expenditure of ₦360 million would amount to approximately ₦30 million monthly, although the latest announcement did not provide an updated financial breakdown.

Sustaining the programme will depend on the availability of funding, equipment, medical supplies and personnel to meet patients’ needs.

Reliable funding arrangements and effective resource management will therefore be important to ensuring that patients continue receiving treatment.

A Significant Intervention for Patients and Families

For people living with chronic kidney disease, access to affordable treatment can make a considerable difference to their ability to manage their condition.

Regular dialysis may require patients to organise their work, family responsibilities and transportation around hospital appointments.

The associated expenses can also affect other household needs, including food, accommodation and education.

Government support can reduce some of these pressures and help patients obtain treatment that might otherwise be difficult to afford.

The 800 monthly sessions announced by Yobe State represent an important healthcare intervention, particularly for patients who depend on haemodialysis.

However, the programme’s overall impact will depend on how effectively services are delivered, how patients access the available sessions and whether the provision can be sustained as demand changes.

Continued investment in specialised healthcare, diagnostic facilities and medical personnel will be important to improving the state’s ability to care for people with chronic illnesses.

Conclusion

Yobe State Government’s provision of 800 free dialysis sessions monthly represents an effort to reduce treatment costs and improve access to specialised healthcare for patients living with chronic kidney disease.

The programme, delivered through Yobe State University Teaching Hospital in Damaturu, is part of broader efforts to strengthen healthcare services and support residents facing the financial challenges of long-term medical treatment.

The state government has also reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the hospital and encouraging improvements in service delivery.

As the programme continues, sustained funding, reliable equipment and effective hospital management will be essential to maintaining access to treatment.

For kidney patients and their families, the initiative offers financial relief and improved access to an essential medical service.