Residents in Yobe voice concern over kidney disease deaths
Residents of Gashua in Yobe State are raising alarms over the growing number of deaths linked to chronic kidney disease. Community members, including Hamza Muhammad Tasi’u and Yusuf Ibrahim, say the illness has devastated families and left many fearful. Preliminary research led by Prof. Mahmoud Maina has found heavy metals in local water sources, which may be contributing to the crisis. Calls for urgent government intervention and better healthcare infrastructure are growing louder.
What we know
- Residents report that chronic kidney disease has claimed many lives, especially among young and active people in Gashua and nearby communities.
- Prof. Mahmoud Maina’s research team detected cadmium, lead, and arsenic in water samples from affected areas, which are known to trigger kidney disease.
- Fishermen and riverine communities appear to be disproportionately affected, possibly due to prolonged exposure to contaminated water.
- Community members, like Aisha Bukar and Malam Sadiq Abdullahi, blame poor healthcare facilities and late diagnosis for worsening the situation.
- The Yobe State Government has made kidney dialysis free and sponsored research, but residents continue to demand cleaner water, better hospitals, and awareness campaigns.
