As the world celebrates World Kidney Day 2021 “Living Well with Kidney Disease”, in Ghana about 13% percent of the population have CKD, this statistics is from the Ghana Kidney Association, made up of Nephrologists, Nurses, Patients and care givers. Let’s me appreciate our Nephrologists (Kidney Doctors) Prof. Michael Mate-Kole, Dr. Charlotte Osafo, Dr. Vincent Boima, Dr. Adu, Dr. Mensah Amoah among others for putting in their best in the midsts of limited resources and over burdened number Patients (they deserve a standing ovation)
I don’t know about you but the percentage of population with CKD in the country scares me, one because the management is very expensive it’s either dialysis or transplant and they all don’t come cheap, two we don’t have enough resources and three CKD takes the best of you.
With the figure above It’s simply means out of Ghana’s population of 30million , 3.9million have CKD whereas we have just a handful of Nephrologist (kidney Doctors) not to talk of equipments for management. As its stands now the total number of dialysis machines at the country’s major hospitals managing Kidney disease in total won’t account to 100pcs.
How then can we manage the percentage even if 5% out of the 13% is seeking medical care? And the figures keeps increasing by the day.
My point as we celebrate this year 2021 World Kidney Day we should all focus on increasing public health education on the importance of the kidney and how to protect the kidneys. Below are the golden rules, this rules will not only protect your kidneys but your general well-being:
1. Keep fit, be active (exercise)
2. Eat a healthy diet (include more veggies & fruits in your diet, less salt, fats, red meats and sugars )
3. Check and control your Blood Sugar
4. Check and control your Blood Pressure
5. Drink water 2,000ml at least (4 sachets of pure water)
6. Don’t smoke
7. Don’t take over-the-counter anti-inflammatory/pain-killer pills regularly
8. Get your kidney function checked if you have any ‘high risk’ factors
* you have diabetes
* you have hypertension
* you are obese
Finally Government, Policy Makers, Head of the Public Hospitals please channel resources to the renal units to help reduce the numbers and also prevent death from CKD.
Source: Peacefmonline.com
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