The Bohyen community in the Bantama Sub Metro of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly has benefited from a free health screening exercise as part of activities to mark the world kidney day 2023
Saturday’s exercise was organized with the sponsorship of The Kidney Specialist Centre and supported by Roche Medical Supplies. The activity was one of the activities by the organization towards the celebration of this year’s World Kidney Day celebrated across the world every year in March.
This year’s world kidney day had the theme “preparing for the unexpected, supporting the vulnerable”. The theme is a call for stakeholders, government agencies and all who matter to begin to look into how policies can be implemented to support the vulnerable who unfortunately have to live with kidney disease.
The many unexpected catastrophes that plague the planet come with challenges for many, and this year’s theme also draws attention to preparing for people in such conditions who have to be reached with many interventions during such situations so they are not affected in the regular supply or medications and services.
The theme also resonates with the organization’s aim of advocating for early detection, treatment and possibly prevention of diabetes thereby reducing the burden of kidney disease. The organization thus ensures that through out the month of March, public education is intensified and then continues throughout the year. This is is done through its team of trained volunteers.
It is to ensure that this vision continues to be executed successfully that the organization decided to organize a free kidney health screening for people in the Bohyen community. The decision received the support of the Assemblyman of the community, Honorable Frank Boateng and the Chief, Nana Appiah Kubi II.
Speaking to the audience, Director for the KHI, Dr Elliot Kotanteng Tannor mentioned that it was far better to check and prevent kidney disease because it was such an expensive process getting a kidney transplant and very few could afford. Constant screening for possible early detection of risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes, obesity was the best way to decrease the burden of the disease in Ghana.
A kidney physician who joined the team as a volunteer, Dr Mrs Abena Tannor also took time to educate participants and the public on the services of the Kidney Specialist Centre. She cautioned against the excessive intake of salt in food which had the potential of making one hypertensive, a risk factor of kidney disease. She also cautioned against the excessive intake of alcohol as it also predisposed one to have kidney disease.
In all, 276 people were screened. The free health screening started at 7:30am and ended at 1:30pm. Participants came from within the community and from commuters who were passing by. The screening involved checking their urine, blood sugar, and their Body Mass Index. Those who showed early signs of possible kidney related issues were referred to the nearest health facilities for further medical examinations.
Before the end of the event, the Director and Founder of the organization, Dr Elliot Koranteng Tannor and his management team in the company of the Assemblyman paid a courtesy call to the Chief. The team was well received by the chief, who was full of praises for the work the team had gone to do in the community. He thanked the Director and encouraged that the screening be extended to other communities.
On his part the Assemblyman, Hon Frank Boateng was full of satisfaction for the work that had been done and prayed the team that another such event should be held in the community from time to time since it brought preventive health to the doorsteps of the citizenry.