Kidney Health International screens hundreds with Kessben Media to mark Mothers Day
Kidney Health International screens hundreds with Kessben Media to mark Mothers Day. The month of May has been declared by the World Health Organization (WHO) as the May Measurement Month. This is shortened as the MMM. It is the month in which the public is sensitized on the dangers of living with uncontrolled hypertension.
Situation in Ghana
In Ghana, one out of four of people between the ages of 25 to 50 years have hypertension, while 4% of people between the ages of 15 to 24 years also have hypertension. For people above the age of 50, one out of every two is living with hypertension. This invariably means that older people are more at risk of hypertension than younger people.
Kidney Health International and preventive health
Kidney Health International since its inception has been at the forefront of preventive health. As part of the organization’s work to get people to know more about the condition and how to prevent it in the first place. Trained volunteers have been sent out to provide public health education to various organized groups. It is as a result that that the NGO was contacted by the Kessben Media to join its program for mothers at the Dufie Towers in Adum, Kumasi.
The program saw seven (7) volunteers of the organization being present at the program which hosted hundreds of mothers at the popular event grounds. As patrons sang and danced to music that was provided at the event grounds, the volunteers set up a stand where participants walked in to have their blood pressure checked.
Education by Dr Elliot K. Tannor
In his education to participants, Dr Tannor, the founder and director of the Kidney Health International took the time to speak to participants. He reminded them of the need to regularly check their blood pressure to be sure that they know their “numbers”. He further urged them to reduce their intake of salt since too much intake of salt causes high blood pressure.
Dr Tannor also urged them to take advantage of the emphasis of the month to pass by the Kidney Specialist Centre and any other facility that is offering free blood pressure checks to check their blood pressures checked.
In his brief message, he also encouraged them to ensure that they eat well, and take in a lot of fruits and vegetables.
The screening
Seven volunteers of the Kidney Health International were present to assist with the checking of blood pressure. Participants trouped to the stand of the NGO to take part in the basic screening of blood pressure. Some had very high blood pressures and were counseled and referred to health facilities to receive some further medical attention. It was also observed that some people who had high blood pressure were people who have been put on medications but whose medicines have run out and they have not gone for some more.
Such were advised to return to the facility they already visit to be attended so. Some people living with high blood pressure do know that they have hypertension, they have been given medications and for some reasons have defaulted in taking their medicines. Such people to have a relapse and normally have worsening conditions.
When it is not controlled, high blood pressure can result in strokes, heart attack, chronic kidney disease and many more serious chronic conditions.
Our concern for high blood pressure
The Kidney Health International is concerned about high blood pressure because, as an organization, it has a mission of ensuring health kidneys in Ghana and beyond and high blood pressure or hypertension is a cause of chronic kidney disease. In the end, almost 200 people had their blood pressure checked.