Why kidney disease ravages Nigerian children

By Ngozi Nwoke T he World Health Organisation (WHO), and local nephrology studies have flagged Borno State in the North-East as having an alarmingly high prevalence of chronic kidney disease, with some communities reporting rates far above the national and global averages. Health data indicate that in specific areas of Maiduguri metropolis, including the Guang community, roughly three in 10 individuals show signs of chronic kidney disease. In peak areas of Borno State, local prevalence has been put at nearly 30 per cent. That compares to a national adult prevalence estimate of between 10 per cent and 19 per cent. Elevated numbers have also been noted in neighbouring Yobe as well as in Jigawa State, according to researchers tracking the trend across the region.