By Nazifi Dawud

Mahmud Aminu Daneji, a kidney disease patient, has been fighting for his life for the past 18 years.

Mr Daneji, 46, who spoke to Kano Focus, while on a dialysis machine at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH), said his two kidneys failed simultaneously in 2001 after he was struck by severe hypertension.

“I used to be a very healthy and productive man before hypertension struck me down. I was living my life happily when suddenly my blood pressure shot to over 220 in March 2001,” he recalled.

He added that despite spending some time at the hospital receiving treatment, complications from the high blood pressure eventually damaged his kidneys.

Failed transplant

Mr Daneji, resident of Daneji quarters in Kano Municipal local government area of Kano state,  narrated that from 2001 he had undergone a total of 476 dialysis sessions until October 2006 when he had a kidney transplant.

He said after the transplant, which was successful, he was able to regain good health that allowed him to continue with his life without pains.

“It felt as if I got a new life. My health problems seemed to have disappeared. In fact, I got married two years after the transplant and everything appeared to be Ok,” he said.

Alas, that respite gradually came to an end in October 2010, when the transplanted organ also failed. And like a horrible nightmare, Mr Daneji’s sorrow was renewed.

Since then, the father of one, said he has undergone 987 dialysis sessions–and still counting.

Each dialysis session, he said, used to cost him N17, 100 until AKTH considered his plight and gave him a 50 percent discount, meaning he now pays N8,550 twice a week.

Confined to a wheelchair, Mr Daneji said he has lost everything including his house.

“All I have are my lovely wife and 11-year-old boy,” he said, his voice cracking with emotions. “I am living for them”.

‘Why I need N15 million’

According to Mr Daneji, his first kidney transplant failed because, as doctors told him, he had a complicated genetic composition with a high possibility of rejecting foreign organs.

Mr Daneji’s case has proven complicated because apart from his aggressive genetic makeup, he had also received too many blood transfusions–which is also another challenge.

“When I did the HLA tissue typing tests, doctors advised that there is a 68 t0 70 percent that my body will reject a new kidney transplant due to my genetic makeup and too much blood transfusions,” he said.

Help in India

However, all hope is not lost for Mr Daneji as a hospital in India–Apollo International Kidney Centre, based in New Delhi has offered to help him at the cost of N15 million.

“I have been advised to seek treatment at the Indian hospital which has reputable kidney disease specialists that can solve my problem,” he said.

“This is why I am appealing for help from the government, well-meaning citizens, philanthropists and organizations to raise N15 million to seek treatment in India,” he added.

Hajiya Hauwa Abdullahi, a spokesperson for AKTH said anyone willing to help Mr Daneji can make donations through the hospital’s Social Welfare Office.

“Those willing to help Mahmud Daneji can call him on 08065514914 or contact me on 08065408993 or make donations through the Social Welfare Office at the AKTH,” she said.