Kidney Health International (KHI), a Non-Governmental Organization that advocates for healthy lifestyles that contribute to healthy kidneys in Kumasi has organised a free health screening exercise for residents of Mpasatia and its environs at Mpasatia in the Mponua District of the Ashanti Region of Ghana under the theme “Screening for Diabetes, an important step to decrease the burden of Kidney Disease in Ghana”
Saturday’s exercise was organized with the support of Thenor Kidney Health Consult and sponsored by the Luke Christian Medical Mission. The activity was one of the activities by the organization towards the celebration of this year’s World Diabetes Day, celebrated across the world every year in November.
Because diabetes is a major cause of kidney disease the KHI believes diabetes is a common cause of stemming the tide of diabetes through early detection is a major step in preventing kidney disease.
The initiative was also used to educate the public on kidney disease, its symptoms, and how to prevent oneself from getting kidney disease.
The theme was chosen in consonance with the organisation’s aim of advocating for early detection, treatment and possibly prevention of diabetes thereby reducing the burden of kidney disease.
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 Patricia Sarfo also took time to educate participants and the public on their diet. 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, 261 people were screened. The screening involved checking their urine, blood sugar, and their Body Mass Index. Those who had issues were referred to the nearest health facilities for further medical examinations.