Infographic of the week: dialysis shortfall in West Africa
We visualise the tragic lack of dialysis capacity in West Africa’s two largest economies, one of which is combining public sector money and private sector management to address the shortfall.
Only 3-4% of Nigeria’s 50,000 ESRD (end-stage renal disease) sufferers get access to dialysis treatment while even fewer get a new kidney. Since ESRD is normally fatal the loss of life does not bear thinking about. We hear patients queue from 5am for treatment at public centres, are not guaranteed a session and still have to pay if they do get one. Dialysis costs $80-100 a session and bankrupts families. Many likely to turn to the unregulated or alternative healthcare markets.
See the regional breakdown of haemodialysis machines per million people in Nigeria and Ghana below. For reference, the UK figure is 90.
Nigeria: Dialysis machines per million people (2017)
It could be changing. The country’s sovereign wealth fund just acquired one of the country’s leading hospital’s nephrology units in a carve-out deal, and is now hoping to export the model across the country, combining its financial firepower with the private sector partner’s management skills.
Ghana: Dialysis machines per million people (2016)
Dialysis machines per million by country
sources:
1st chart: Presentation by Dr Ebun L. Bamgboye, President, Transplant Association of Nigeria, correlated with 2017 estimates using 2006 consensus and country-wide growth since
2nd chart: The geographical distribution of dialysis services in Ghana, Renal Replacement Therapy, 2018
3rd chart: various sources
We would welcome your thoughts on this story. Email your views to Cameron Murray or call 0207 183 3779.
