Elliot Koranteng Tannor, a consultant nephrologist and kidney health advocate, has expressed anxiety at the alarming rate at which Ghanaians, especially “younger people”, are developing kidney disease.
Speaking to Benjamin Offei-Addo on Candid Voice on Sunday (15 August) for Asaase Radio’s Kidney Care Campaign, Tannor said: “What we are getting is younger people getting kidney disease here in Ghana.”
He added: “And at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, in one study we did with about 200 or so people, the average age – which is also something that has been shown in Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital and even most parts of Africa – the average age is normally less than 50 years.
“And for us in Kumasi, and for that matter Ghana, it is 47 years – less than 50 … that is actually the worrying aspect: we are getting kidney disease younger, we are getting kidney failure younger than our compatriots in other parts of the world.”
Worrying figures
Tannor said the data available shows that roughly four million Ghanaians are living with some form of chronic kidney disease.
“In Ghana statistics actually show that 13 out of every 100 people have some form of kidney disease. And indeed, if we are to assume there are 30 million of us, about four million Ghanaians, I should say, have some form of chronic disease and that is the worrying aspect.
“The disease itself is not a problem, but when the kidney finally fails that is when they will need dialysis and all of that …” he said.
Tannor said the number-one cause of kidney disease currently is diabetes. However, most Ghanaians now are developing the disease through other ailments such as hypertension.
He advised Ghanaians to desist from using herbal medicine to treat diseases related to problems with the kidneys.
Kidney Care Campaign
Meanwhile, Asaase Radio has launched the Asaase Kidney Care Campaign to mark its first anniversary.
The Accra-based, pan-African-focused multimedia station, which has affiliates across Ghana, marked one year of operations with a short ceremony in mid-June that was attended by members of staff, some members of the board of directors and shareholders.
The focus of the Asaase Kidney Care Campaign is to educate the public about kidney health and to raise money for a dialysis machine, which will be donated to a health facility in Ghana.
Fred Dzakpata
Asaase Radio 99.5 – tune in or log on to broadcasts online
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