Care of patients with end-stage renal disease in Nigeria: a call for a change in paradigm

The burden of chronic kidney disease (CKD) is increasing in most developing countries such as Nigeria. There are over a million persons with end-stage kidney disease (ESRD) requiring renal replacement therapy (RRT) around the world. The cost of providing care for patients with ESRD is colossal; and data from most renal centres in Nigeria show that majority of patients are unable to afford the cost of care resulting in a high mortality among ESRD patients. Also, there is no organized funding mechanism for RRT in Nigeria. We highlight some of the challenges limiting access to care for ESRD patients in Nigeria and propose some recommendations on how to change this paradigm.