8,000 Known cases of kidney diseases in Ghana

Health News of Friday, 14 March 2014

Source: Graphic Online

The Minister of Health, Ms. Sherry Ayittey, has said that there are more than 8,000 renal failure patients in Ghana now. Out of the number, less than 600 are receiving serious treatment because of the high cost and the lack of requisite equipment.

Ms. Ayittey made this known at the World Kidney Day celebration in Accra yesterday.

The event was organised by the Health Education On Wheels (HEOW), a non-governmental organisation, on the theme Chronic kidney disease and ageing.

The HEOW is collaborating with the Police Service to establish a dialysis centre at the Ghana Police Hospital. World Kidney Day is celebrated on the second Thursday of March every year and the occasion is always used to increase awareness on the importance of kidneys and how to keep them healthy.

Speaking at the event, Ms. Ayittey said chronic kidney diseases could develop at any age.

In an attempt to increase accessibility to renal centres, Ms. Ayittey said the Ministry of Health would soon establish dialysis centres in some selected areas in the country.

A urology centre, she said, would also be established at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) in Accra, to pave way for kidney transplants and other complex renal surgeries in Ghana.

When the urology centre is completed, there will be no need for anyone whose health requires a kidney transplant to travel outside for the transplant, she said.

See the article here:
8,000 Known cases of kidney diseases in Ghana