Kumasi, March 12, – Dr Paa Kwesi Baidoo, Chief Executive Officer of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), has called for stronger collaboration among stakeholders to promote a healthier, equitable and sustainable future for kidney health.
He urged governments, industries and commercial institutions to prioritise preventive healthcare and ensure equitable access to kidney treatment services, particularly dialysis and transplantation.
Dr Baidoo made the call during a public lecture organised in Kumasi to mark World Kidney Day, celebrated this year under the theme “Caring for People; Protecting the Planet.”
He noted that kidney disease had become a major global health concern, affecting one in every 10 people worldwide, with an estimated four million cases in Ghana. The condition, he said, was particularly prevalent in low-income countries, making it a pressing health issue.
Dr Baidoo emphasised the importance of early detection, encouraging the public—especially individuals living with diabetes, hypertension and obesity—to undergo regular kidney examinations.
He explained that treatment at the end stage of kidney disease was highly resource-intensive and stressed that early screening could save many lives.
The KATH CEO also advocated environmentally sustainable healthcare practices, urging industries to adopt energy-efficient equipment and toxic-free medical supplies to protect patient health and the environment.
Professor Sampson Antwi, Immediate Past President of the Ghana Kidney Association, highlighted the connection between environmental protection and kidney health, noting that safeguarding the environment was essential to protecting human health.
He said environmental degradation, including illegal mining, had contributed to the rising incidence of kidney disease and called for stronger policies and systems to protect both the environment and public health.
Prof Antwi further urged investment in early detection, diagnosis and prevention, noting that more than 50 per cent of kidney diseases could be prevented through healthy lifestyles such as balanced diets, reduced salt intake, avoiding excessive use of painkillers, practising safer sex and drinking adequate water.
He also pointed to major challenges facing kidney care in Ghana, including limited dialysis centres, inadequate machines and a shortage of specialised kidney doctors, and called for urgent measures to strengthen the country’s healthcare system.
GHBUSS
March 12, 2026
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