A Visit That Reminded Us of the Value of Life

On Friday, 14 August 2026, as we commemorated the 5th anniversary of the passing of my amiable cousin, Nathaniel Matthew Babasy, I had the privilege, in my capacity as Director of the Nathaniel Kidney Foundation (NKF), to join other dedicated members of the Foundation on a visit to kidney patients at IBB Specialist Hospital, Minna.

In honour of Nathaniel’s memory and in keeping with the Foundation’s commitment to supporting people living with kidney disease, we shared two sets of dialysis kits each with 12 patients.

The visit, however, was more than the distribution of dialysis supplies. It was a sobering reminder of the realities many kidney patients face.

We were informed that two patients had recently stopped attending their dialysis sessions because they could no longer afford the cost. We immediately had to ask the medical team to reach out to them and encourage them to return.

We also encountered a patient who was already overdue for dialysis but had been unable to receive treatment because she could not afford it.

These moments are heartbreaking.

They remind us that behind every statistic is a human being—a mother, father, brother, sister, friend or loved one—whose life may depend on access to regular dialysis.

Truly, you don’t know the value of good health until you visit a hospital.

As we remember Nathaniel five years after his passing, we are reminded that one of the most meaningful ways to honour a life is to make a difference in the lives of others.

The Nathaniel Kidney Foundation remains committed to supporting kidney patients and advocating for greater awareness, compassion and access to life-saving renal care.

May everyone who needs help find help when they need it, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

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