Kidney Health International Screens over 400 to mark World Diabetes Day
Kidney Health International Screens over 400 to mark World Diabetes Day. Kidney Health International, the Non-Governmental arm of the Kidney Konsult, has screened over 400 people in Kotwi in the Atwima Kwawoma District to mark this year’s World Diabetes Day.
The event recorded one of the massive turnouts ever recorded in the history of the organization’s community programs.
Prior to the screening day, over ten churches were visited by a team made up of the Programs Manager, a Kidney Health Volunteer, and the Assembly man of the community.
These churches enjoyed education on kidney health and why they needed to partake in getting screened for early warning signs of kidney disease. Some of the Churches that were visited include.
The Presbyterian Church, The Gallant Christheart Church, The Roman Catholic Church, The Church of Pentecost branches, Assemblies of God, The Apostolic Church, The Emmanuel Assembly of the Methodist Church and the Glory Gethsemane Evangelical Ministry International.
These visits helped to sensitize the community about the program and helped to increase participation.
Health Education
Some community members gathered at the venue of the program as early as 5am eager to be screened. They were educated on kidney disease prevention strategies by the Programs Manager Mr. Sylvanus Gatorwu. They took turns to ask questions and had their questions answered by the Programs Manager who had spent the night in the community.
During the program, the Dr. Elliot Kotanteng Tannor, Director and founder of the Kidney Health International also took some time to educate the teaming crowd that had gathered. He emphasised on the need to get screened and noted that “because kidney disease does not show symptoms until it is too late, it was important at people take advantage of programs like these to know the status of their kidneys”
Dr. Mrs. Abena Tannor, a Rehabilitation Specialist who was one of the doctors also took some time to educate participants on the need for exercises as a preventive measure to prevent and manage diabetes. He led the crowd to perform some exercises, teaching them the “COCONUT” aerobics.
Social Media Engagement
Before the screening, Mr. Sylvanus Gatorwu, the Programs Manager of the organization engaged audience on TikTok on a daily basis to provide kidney health education.
Flyers were also developed by Dr. Tannor and were shared on various social media platforms from the first of November till the screening day and will continue to the end of November.
The Screening
The team arrived at the venue at about 7:30am, where canopies, tables and chairs were already arranged with participants patiently waiting. A public address system was also already providing music in the background to all present.
Screening of participants started around 8:20am and ended by 1:30PM
Participants were screened for hypertension, blood sugar and body mass index. Urine analysis was also done for all participants. In all over 400 people were screened.
Results of the screening were then taken to one of the 7 doctors present for consultation. Those who showed signs of some form of kidney disease were referred to the nearest facility for further medical examinations.
Sponsors
For the World Diabetes Day program at Kotwi, major sponsors were Gopens Pharmacy and the Kidney Specialist Centre. Other supporting sponsors were Gilat Pharmacy, MSD Lancet Laboratories, Suprapharma, Indus Life Sciences, Keep the Faith Company Limited and Til Healthcare.
Two clubs, the Kumasi Adehye Leo club and the Kumasi Oasis Leo Lions club supported this year’s event and also came to help with the screening.
In all 26 members took part in the screening program, 8 doctors, and then 18 nurses and volunteers.