🏥 Men's Health
Dialysis in Nigeria: What to Expect
Starting dialysis — a practical guide for Nigerian patients and families
Dialysis keeps people alive when the kidneys fail. It filters waste products and excess fluid from the blood that the damaged kidneys can no longer remove. In Nigeria, access to dialysis is severely limited and expensive, and many patients reach kidney failure without ever having been told their kidneys were in danger. This guide helps patients and families understand what dialysis involves and how to navigate it in Nigeria.
Signs and Symptoms
✓ Dialysis is for people who already have end-stage kidney disease (ESKD)
✓ Symptoms that indicate dialysis is needed: severe fatigue, confusion, fluid overload, dangerous potassium levels, or uraemia not controlled by medication
✓ The nephrologist determines when to start based on eGFR (usually <10–15 ml/min) and symptoms
When to Seek Help
eGFR below 20 ml/minTime to discuss dialysis access planning with a nephrologist — even if not starting yet.
Rapidly worsening kidney functionAccelerated preparation for dialysis — do not wait until emergency.
Any symptom of uraemiaNausea, confusion, or pericarditis from uraemia indicates immediate dialysis need.
Fluid overload not responding to diureticsA complication of advanced CKD that may require dialysis to remove fluid.
Tests & Diagnosis
🧪 eGFR monitoring every 3 months
Guides timing of dialysis preparation.
🧪 Echocardiogram
Cardiac disease is common in ESKD — cardiac assessment before dialysis access surgery.
🧪 Hepatitis B and C, HIV serology
Required before starting dialysis — determines dialysis machine allocation and precautions.
🧪 Fistula mapping (Doppler ultrasound of veins)
Before arteriovenous fistula creation — checks vein suitability.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does dialysis cost in Nigeria?
Haemodialysis at government teaching hospitals: approximately N15,000–N30,000 per session (subsidised). Private dialysis centres: N30,000–N60,000 per session. At 3 sessions/week, annual cost is N2.3–N9 million. Peritoneal dialysis fluid and supplies cost approximately N80,000–N150,000 per month, but no machine fees.
How long can someone live on dialysis?
With good compliance and care, many people on dialysis live 10–20+ years. Cardiovascular disease is the main cause of death. Quality of life on dialysis can be good with proper management — many patients work full-time and live full lives.
Is a kidney transplant possible in Nigeria?
Yes — but numbers are limited. Successful living-donor transplants are performed at several Nigerian teaching hospitals. The main barriers are cost (approximately N2–5 million for the procedure and initial immunosuppression), limited surgical capacity, and limited donor availability. The long-term savings vs dialysis make transplant economically viable if financing can be arranged.
What can I eat on dialysis?
Dialysis diet is significantly restricted. Avoid: high-potassium foods (bananas, avocado, potatoes, orange juice, coconut water). Limit phosphate: dairy, beans, nuts, cola drinks. Limit fluid to 1–1.5 litres per day. Eat adequate protein (unlike pre-dialysis CKD diet where protein is restricted). A renal dietitian review is essential.
Can I work while on dialysis?
Many people do. Haemodialysis requires 12 hours/week (3 sessions), which can often be scheduled in the morning before work or on alternate days. Peritoneal dialysis is done at home and is more compatible with work. Kidney disease does not automatically mean disability.