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Lagos State N5.6bn Cardiac and Renal Centre, Gbagada, with 24 dialysis machines remains in ruins since it was commissioned in March 2015 by a former governor of the state, Babatunde Fashola, to provide comprehensive treatment to patients with kidney disease. As the multi-billion naira centre remains grounded, PUNCH Healthwise investigations revealed that only three out of 28 general hospitals in the state operate with dialysis machines. JANET OGUNDEPO reports

At 6am on Tuesday, the feet of 28-year-old Justin Ikechukwu (name changed to protect his identity) and his elderly father, were the first few feet that trod the Dialysis Centre at the General Hospital, Gbagada, Lagos State.

But the previous night, sleep evaded his eyes as worry lines took over his brow.

Bringing his father, who was recently diagnosed with end-stage kidney disease also known as kidney failure to GH, Gbagada for dialysis from the Ikorodu area of the state was a task he braced himself for twice a week.

“My dad was transferred from General Hospital, Ikorodu to this place because they (GH, Ikorodu) don’t have the dialysis machine,” a tired Ikechukwu said.

Despite the early arrival, Ikechukuwu’s father was called in for his dialysis around noon.

The long wait time was due to many patients also being at the centre for their dialysis appointments.

Aside from the extended waiting time, Ikechuckwu spends over N20,000 to fuel his car every time he brings his father to the facility.

While at the hospital, he pays N43,000 for a dialysis session and could sometimes spend about N14,000 extra to buy required injections and hospital consumables.

Perhaps, if GH, Ikorodu, touted as “the busiest secondary facility in Lagos State” and the “most improved General Hospital in Lagos,” had a renal centre and dialysis machine, Ikechukwu would not have to spend over N70,000 each time his father needs undergo a dialysis session.

After spending over four hours at the centre, PUNCH Healthwise gathered that some patients came as far as Abule-Egba, under the Alimosho Local Government Area of the state.

Most populated city with 18 dialysis machines

Lagos State, Nigeria’s commercial capital and megacity, has the highest influx of persons with non-communicable diseases accessing public secondary health facilities.

Meanwhile, the World Population Review estimates Lagos’ 2024 population to be 16.5 million.

Furthermore, the Lagos State Ministry of Health’s website states that there are 28 state-owned secondary health facilities, “comprising General Hospitals, two standalone Maternal and Childcare Centres and the Accident and Emergency Centre.”

Two reliable sources disclosed to PUNCH Healthwise that apart from the Lagos State Teaching Hospital, only three general hospitals in the state have dialysis units and machines.

This implies that 22 secondary health facilities, aside from the five specialist hospitals (A&E centre and four Maternal and Child Care centres), do not have dialysis machines or a renal centre.

The three facilities with dialysis units are General Hospital, Lagos; Gbagada General Hospital, Gbagada; and Alimosho General Hospital, Igando.

Investigations by PUNCH Healthwise revealed that these three health facilities have about 11 working dialysis machines.

In all, the state can only boast of 18 working dialysis in its facilities.

PUNCH Healthwise reports that secondary facilities paraded as big general hospitals by the state including Randle General Hospital, Isolo General Hospital and General Hospital, Ikorodu have no dialysis machines and renal centres.

Consequently, hundreds of patients with acute and end-stage renal diseases flock to the three general hospitals offering life-saving dialysis.

But the renal centre rots away