As Ghana joined the rest of the world to celebrate World Kidney Day on March 12, 2026, residents of Awate in the North Dayi District of the Volta Region were offered free community health screenings as part of a broader effort to raise awareness about the importance of health, diet, and overall well-being.
The event, dubbed “Kidney Health for All: Caring for People, Protecting the Planet”, aimed to increase awareness of kidney disease, promote early detection, and encourage preventive healthcare practices within underserved communities.
The screening, organised in collaboration with Nephro Ghana, Firm Health Ghana Foundation, Smart Innovations Ghana (SIG), and GhanaWeb, served over 400 residents from neighboring communities including Awate Todzi, Awate Agame, Awate Dzifade, and Awate Tornu.
Speaking to GhanaWeb on the sidelines of the outreach, Dr Joseph Darko, Director of Nephro Ghana and Director of Medical Services at Firm Health Ghana Foundation, highlighted the purpose of the initiative, emphasising its critical role in kidney health awareness.
According to him, many community members are unaware of the vital functions the kidneys perform in the human body.
He maintained that dedicating a special day to kidney health awareness is particularly important for underserved communities.
2026 World Kidney Day: Awate Community set to receive free medical screening
“If you ask the average person here where their kidneys are or what the kidney does, they are unlikely to tell you. Even though the kidney is a very important organ in the body, very few people know where it is and what it does. And so, being a very important organ, it is also subject to diseases that can render one incapacitated,” he said.
He further expressed hope of returning to the community in the future to continue promoting kidney health awareness and providing medical support.
The CEO of Smart Innovations Ghana Limited (SIG), Dr Sylvester Akpah, reaffirmed SIG’s commitment to community health initiatives, following its participation in the outreach.
He noted that kidneys play a vital role in the functioning of the human body, making awareness and preventive care essential.
Dr Akpah encouraged community members to adhere to the medical advice given by doctors during the outreach and to follow the health guidelines provided.
“For an organization like Smart Innovations, where we believe in connecting with communities through technology, I would say this community is relatively healthy. You can meet someone who tells you they are 80 years old, and you wouldn’t believe it. But I will entreat community members to listen to the doctors’ advice and follow all the guidelines they have outlined,” he added.
Some community members also shared their joy and excitement with GhanaWeb after undergoing the screening.
One resident, Dora Adzo, said such opportunities should not be taken for granted, as they help people live healthier lives.
She called for similar initiatives to be extended to other communities, particularly targeting the elderly.
“I am so happy with the process and everything. I see this as a good thing for us to help us stay healthy. I am also going to play my part by adhering to the doctors’ advice and taking my medication on time,” she stated.
World Kidney Day is a global health awareness campaign observed every year on the second Thursday of March to highlight the importance of kidney health and reduce the impact of kidney disease worldwide.
video=137265>
SP
Meanwhile, learn of the story of the man behind the iconic Akwaaba frames in Ghana:
Copyright © 1994 - 2026 GhanaWeb. All rights reserved.
