Kidney disease research in Yobe nearing completion, says lead investigator

The lead investigator on the causes of the mysterious kidney disease affecting communities in Yobe North, Professor Mahmoud Bukar Maina, has said findings from the long-awaited study are expected within the next few months. Maina, who is also the Director of the Biomedical Research and Training Centre (BioRTC) at Yobe State University, disclosed this on […]

The lead investigator on the causes of the mysterious kidney disease affecting communities in Yobe North, Professor Mahmoud Bukar Maina, has said findings from the long-awaited study are expected within the next few months.

Maina, who is also the Director of the Biomedical Research and Training Centre (BioRTC) at Yobe State University, disclosed this on Thursday when he led a team of international researchers on a courtesy visit to Governor Mai Mala Buni at the Government House, Damaturu.

He said the study, which seeks to uncover the causes of the kidney disease that has claimed many lives in parts of the state, had reached an advanced stage.

“The research is almost complete. We expect the findings to be ready within the next few months and they will provide valuable insights into addressing kidney-related health challenges in the region,” Maina said.

“We have conducted all the necessary experiments and investigations required to unravel the causes of the kidney disease that has been affecting and claiming the lives of people, particularly in Bade Local Government Area.”

The professor said the establishment of a permanent BioRTC facility at Yobe State University marked a significant step in the state’s efforts to become a centre for biomedical research, innovation and capacity development.

According to him, the centre has trained more than 1,000 professionals, researchers, academics and students through workshops, fellowships, summer schools and other specialised programmes since its inception.

He said BioRTC was established to develop a new generation of scientists with skills in health, biomedical sciences, artificial intelligence and computational research.

Maina added that the visiting researchers, drawn from the United Kingdom, Canada, Brazil, Germany, Japan, France, Switzerland, Spain and several African countries, were in Yobe to assess the BioRTC facility and support the training of young people in science, research and innovation.

Representing Governor Buni, the Deputy Governor, Idi Barde Gubana, commended Maina and the BioRTC team for their contributions to scientific development in the state.

He described the establishment of the centre as a major milestone that had positioned Yobe as an emerging hub for biomedical research in Nigeria and Africa.

“It is our hope and prayer that the BioRTC will successfully address the chronic kidney disease problem, especially in the northern part of Yobe State,” Gubana said.

He also praised Maina for facilitating international collaborations and training programmes that have exposed scientists and medical professionals to modern research techniques.

One of the visiting scholars, Professor Miguel Maravall of the United Kingdom, lauded the Yobe State Government for creating an enabling environment for scientific research.

“We are impressed by the commitment of the Yobe State Government to research and education. The support being provided here is creating opportunities for scientific advancement and international collaboration,” he said.

Daily Trust reports that kidney disease affecting communities in Bade Local Government Area and neighbouring areas has remained a major public health concern for decades, prompting extensive scientific investigations to determine its causes and possible preventive measures.

Communities such as Gashua and Jakusko, located within the Komadugu-Yobe Basin, have recorded high rates of kidney failure, resulting in significant morbidity and mortality over the years.