Regional Staff of Ghana National Fire Service receive healthy kidney education
Regional Staff of Ghana National Fire Service receive healthy kidney education. As the Kidney Health International continues to educate Ghanaians on how to prevent kidney disease, the volunteers of the organization are not relenting on ensuring that they reach every institution within their reach with the kidney health “message”
One of such hard working volunteers who is based in the Northern regional capital city of Tamale continues to blaze the trail by ensuring that he educates people within the region.
Simon Afipungu Baneko is a renal nurse by profession and arguably one of the vibrant volunteers who joined the organization with an unparalleled passion.
In the month of July, specifically on the 24th, he educated the regional staff of the Ghana National Fire Service in Tamale. The over 50 staff were elated to host him.
Mr Baneko took his time to take the security officers through the functions of the kidneys, what causes kidney disease, risk factors and then how to prevent kidney disease.
He also touched on the various risky behaviors which can predispose one to developing chronic kidney disease.
As a precautionary measure, he spent time to elaborate on how simple practices such as drinking enough water could save one’s life and keep them away from kidney disease. Since the disease is without symptoms until it is too late, he encouraged participants to ensure that they check the functions of their kidneys at least once every year to be sure that they are monitoring to know the state of their kidneys.
“Many people don’t want to know what is happening to them, and that is very bad. They think if they know what is wrong with them, that is what will rather kill them. What you also don’t know is that, the day your kidneys start going down, you won’t even know, and by the time you get to know, it may be too late and too expensive to save you. And then you are also now going to disturb everybody around you” He passionately told them.
In Ghana, kidney disease has been on the rise, and has taken center stage in many news portals in recent times with many asking why the disease is on the rise. This wasn’t missing during the health talk.
Mr Baneko explained that, it was because in the past most people were not reporting the cases, and were attributing the condition to spiritual causes. “But these days, people are visiting the hospitals more and we are getting to know of the cases, that is why it looks like it is now on the rise. It has always been with us”
On their part, the participants were very happy and expressed interest in having their kidneys checked.
Many of them mentioned that they have not checked their kidneys before in their entire life and were even afraid to do so, however, the talk had “put to rest” their fears and were going to do so.
They were full of surprise at some of the risk factors such as the abuse of painkillers and wanted to know which painkillers could cause kidney disease when abused. To this, Mr Beneku took the time to explain the various groups of painkillers that one was likely to take and expressed caution that it wasn’t necessarily the taking of the painkillers per se, but the abuse of it is what ought to be looked at.
He admonished all participants present to as much as possible try to consult their health professionals before going to take any more painkillers after they are done with their medications given them by a health practitioner.
On his part, Assitant Divisional Officer, Hudu Baba was full of excitment for the insightful time they had with the Kidney Health International volunteer, and expressed a desire to have another of such talks.