As Ghana joins the world in marking World Kidney Day, Dr. Susan Adu-Amankwah, Clinical Research Coordinator at the Noguchi Memorial Institute, has emphasized the need to shift the focus from treatment alone to prevention and health promotion.
Speaking on the significance of the day, Dr. Adu-Amankwah highlighted the rising cases of kidney disease in Ghana, attributing it to poor lifestyle choices, increased non-communicable diseases (NCDs), and harmful substance consumption.
“We empathize with the situation, but we must not just look at dialysis. We need to promote health so that people don’t get to that stage. You can function with one kidney, so when dialysis becomes necessary, it means the disease has reached its end stage.”
Dr. Adu-Amankwah noted that the increasing burden of hypertension and diabetes, particularly among young people, is fueling the prevalence of kidney disease, raising concerns about lifestyle habits that contribute to these conditions, including poor diet, high stress levels, and excessive consumption of harmful substances.
“Why do we have young people becoming hypertensive or diabetic? What kind of diets are we consuming? What kind of stress are we putting on people? These factors contribute to kidney disease.”
She stressed that while dialysis and treatment options are critical, prevention must be the first line of defense.
Dr. Adu-Amankwah commended the government’s “Mahama Cares” initiative, which aims to expand free primary healthcare with a particular focus on non-communicable diseases like kidney disease, hypertension, and diabetes.
She urged a national conversation on preventive healthcare and early screenings to reduce the number of Ghanaians requiring dialysis, noting “It’s not just about dialysis, which is important. But we must look at prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, and if necessary, palliative care. We need a holistic approach to kidney health.”
Alessandro Balducci, President of the International Federation of Kidney Foundations, called for urgent global action to improve early detection of kidney disease, particularly among high-risk groups such as individuals with diabetes and hypertension.
Speaking ahead of this year’s World Kidney Day, Mr. Balducci emphasized the theme: “Are Your Kidneys Okay? Detect Early, Protect Kidney Health”, a call to action that underscores the critical need to identify kidney problems before they become life-threatening.
“For this year, we have chosen a theme that urges people to check on their kidney health,” Balducci said. “First of all, it means that we need urgent action for early detection in high-risk groups, which are people who are affected by diabetes and hypertension. These are the two main causes of renal disease.”
Mr. Balducci warned that chronic kidney disease (CKD) is currently the eighth leading cause of death globally and is projected to rise to the fifth leading cause by 2040. He stressed that stronger policies and targeted prevention strategies are essential to curb this growing health crisis.
“Don’t forget that renal disease is actually the eighth cause of death, but in 2040, it is projected to become the fifth cause of death all over the world,” he cautioned. “We need stronger policy and strategies to improve kidney health.”
He encouraged global participation in World Kidney Day, which is observed in over 100 countries through thousands of awareness events and activities urging, “Please, all of you, participate in World Kidney Day events taking place across the globe. Go everywhere and participate.”
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