Impact of flood disaster on dialysis care in Maiduguri Northeastern Nigeria

Authors

Lawan, Mustapha; Tijjani, Zannah M.; Sulaiman, Mohammad M.

Citation

Arab J Nephrol Transplant. 2026;8(2):77–80. doi: 10.4103/AJNT.AJNT_1_26

Abstract

Introduction: Flood disasters present significant challenges to health systems, particularly in resource-constrained settings. In 2025, unprecedented flood affected Maiduguri and its environs, severely disrupting essential healthcare services, with dialysis care among the most critically affected. Aim: This study was aimed at determining the impact of the flood disaster on patients with end-stage kidney disease in Maiduguri, northeastern Nigeria. Patients and methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted among patients with end-stage kidney disease receiving maintenance hemodialysis at the two dialysis centers located at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital and State Specialist Hospital Maiduguri, northeast Nigeria. Results: A total of 120 patients who were receiving maintenance hemodialysis at the two centers (State Specialist Hospital Maiduguri and University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital) were included in the study. Their mean age was 39.29 ± 9.79 years and 66.7% (80) were male. About half of the patient cohort missed at least a session of dialysis during the disaster. One of the dialysis units was closed for over 10 days during the flood disaster. Forty-eight (40%) patients required emergency room visit due to missed hemodialysis during the flood. Conclusion: Flooding has a significant and multifaceted impact on dialysis services and patients in Maiduguri. Strengthening resilient infrastructure, developing emergency dialysis protocols, and integrating chronic disease management into disaster response planning are essential to protect dialysis-dependent populations in flood-prone regions.

Full text (excerpt)

Impact of flood disaster on dialysis care in Maiduguri Northeastern Nigeria Mustapha Lawan, Zannah M. Tijjani, Mohammad M. Sulaiman Nephrology Division, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria Correspondence to Mohammad M. Sulaiman, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Maiduguri, PMB 1069, Maiduguri 600104, Borno State, Nigeria. Tel: +234 806 798 0029; e-mail: [email protected] Received 17 January 2026 Revised 19 February 2026 Accepted 22 April 2026 Published 29 June 2026 Arab Journal of Nephrology and Transplantation 2026, 8:77-80 Introduction Floods present significant challenges to health systems, particularly in resource-constrained settings. In 2025, unprecedented flood affected Maiduguri and its environs, severely disrupting essential healthcare services, with dialysis care among the most critically affected. Aim This study was aimed at determining the impact of the flood disaster on patients with end-stage kidney disease in Maiduguri, northeastern Nigeria. Patients and methods This was a cross-sectional study conducted among end-stage kidney disease receiving maintenance hemodialysis at the two dialysis cent

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The Arab Journal of Nephrology and Transplantation is the peer-reviewed open-access journal of ASNRT, published since 2008.

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