The Ghana Kidney Association, in collaboration with PATH Ghana, has marked this year’s World Kidney Day in Kumasi, the capital of the Ashanti Region. The event, held on March 13, aimed to raise awareness of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) and the need for early detection and prevention.

This year’s theme, “Are Your Kidneys OK? Detect Early, Protect Kidney Health”, highlights the importance of early screening, particularly for high-risk populations, to prevent CKD from progressing to kidney failure.

Speaking on the alarming rise in kidney disease cases, Dr. Eliot Koranteng Tanoh, a Senior Specialist and Nephrologist at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), described the situation in the Ashanti Region as deeply concerning.

“Over the past 10 years, the kidney disease burden has increased about four times, and the most worrying aspect is that over 70% of cases are diagnosed at the kidney failure stage. At this point, it is very difficult to save them because they didn’t report early, and the majority end up dying on admission,” he revealed.

He further urged the public to prioritise regular health check-ups and seek medical attention at the earliest signs of kidney disease.

Dr. Robert Yeboah, Director of the Healthy Heart Program at PATH, also emphasised the role of lifestyle choices in preventing kidney disease.

“Our Healthy Heart Africa Programme focuses on hypertension and diabetes, which are the major risk factors for kidney disease. People need to work a lot on their lifestyle choices and adhere to clinical advice in case they are hypertensive or diabetic, so that it will be controlled and won’t degenerate into kidney disease,” he advised.

PATH, a global non-profit organisation, has over 40 years of experience in developing and scaling up innovative solutions to global health challenges.

As part of the commemoration, PATH and the Ghana Kidney Association organised a screening outreach programme, a Kidney Health Forum, and a virtual Continuous Medical Education (CME) session to promote prevention and early detection. The event also involved schools, the public, clergy, and opinion leaders in spreading awareness about kidney health.

Health experts are calling for increased public education, lifestyle modifications, and regular health screenings to reduce the growing burden of kidney disease in Ghana.