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A physician specialist and nephrology fellow, Dr Mensah Amoah, has warned that chronic kidney disease (CKD) is becoming a major public health concern in Ghana, with an estimated 13 per cent of the adult population, about four million people, living with the condition, many of them unknowingly.
According to Dr Amoah, the disease is often detected only when the kidneys have already suffered severe damage, making treatment more complicated and expensive.
Dr Amoah explained that, unlike many developed countries where kidney disease is identified early through routine health checks, most patients in Ghana seek medical care only when the condition has progressed to stage five, also known as kidney failure.
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At that stage, he said, the kidneys have completely stopped functioning, and patients are left with only two treatment options: dialysis or kidney transplantation.
“These treatments are extremely expensive and not readily accessible for most Ghanaians,” he said in an interview with the Ghana News Agency.
He added that a worrying number of cases occur among people aged 20 to 50 years, the country’s most economically productive population.
Dr Amoah described chronic kidney disease as a “silent disease” because it often develops without noticeable symptoms in its early stages.
As a result, many people believe they are healthy until the condition becomes severe and irreversible.
Despite the alarming numbers, the specialist stressed that early detection can significantly slow or prevent disease progression.
He said routine health screenings — particularly annual urinalysis and kidney function tests — are effective tools for identifying early signs of kidney damage.
A simple urine test, he explained, can reveal warning indicators such as protein or blood in the urine, which may signal underlying kidney problems.
Dr Amoah noted that urinalysis is widely available at health facilities and covered under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), making it an accessible screening option for many Ghanaians.
The nephrology fellow cautioned that people living with certain medical conditions face a higher risk of developing kidney disease. These include:
- Hypertension
- Diabetes
- HIV
- Hepatitis B
- Kidney stones
- Cancer
He advised individuals with these conditions to monitor their kidney health more frequently.
Dr Amoah emphasised that lifestyle changes can help prevent kidney disease.
He recommended:
- Reducing salt intake
- Eating balanced diets rich in vegetables
- Maintaining a healthy weight
- Engaging in regular physical activity
Foods such as canned products, salted fish, corned beef, sausages and other processed foods contain high levels of salt that can increase blood pressure, one of the leading causes of kidney disease.
Regular exercise, including brisk walking, jogging or gym workouts for 30 to 60 minutes three to five times a week, can help reduce the risk of hypertension and diabetes, he added.
Dr Amoah also warned against the excessive use of certain painkillers and unregulated herbal medicines, noting that some drugs can gradually reduce blood flow to the kidneys.
He cautioned that some herbal preparations may contain substances harmful to kidney health and urged the public to seek medical advice before using herbal products regularly.
While acknowledging that healthier foods can sometimes be more expensive, he encouraged people to opt for whole fruits instead of processed fruit juices, which often contain high sugar levels and little fibre.
According to him, greater awareness, early screening and healthier lifestyles are critical to preventing chronic kidney disease from becoming an even bigger health crisis in Ghana.
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