World Kidney Day is observed annually on the Second Thursday in March, and it is a global health awareness campaign focusing on the importance of the kidneys and reducing the frequency and impact of kidney disease and its associated health problems worldwide.
To commemorate this year’s World Kidney Day and promote Kidney Chronic Disease education in Ghana, health advocate and broadcaster Abigail Ashley, organized Free Health Screening to her colleagues at Despite Group of Companies, which took place at the Ship House building in Accra.
“The screening will aid in the prevention and early diagnosis of kidney failure through blood pressure and blood sugar screenings, Urine RE, BUE, as well as body mass index (BMI) screenings.” Miss Ashley stated.
The survivor of Chronic Kidney Disease Stage 5 (CKD St5) also launched ‘The Behind My Smiles Project’ which is under the tutelage of her Abigail Ashley Foundation.
The Behind My Smiles Project is a Nationwide Kidney Education program, seeking to promote Healthy Kidney Education among the Ghanaian populace, especially the youth, in all the ten regions, starting from the Greater Accra Region, to Ashanti Region, then to Central and Western, and the others follow respectively.
Speaking at the press launch, Miss Ashley bemoaned the increasing number of Kidney Chronic Disease among the youth in the country, adding that, “In Ghana, kidney failure forms about 35-40% of all medical admissions at hospitals, with most patients between the ages 25-45 years. It’s quite unfortunate that a significant portion of patients diagnosed with kidney disease in Ghana are in their productive ages whereas the situation is the reverse for advanced countries”
Miss Ashley promised her outfit would ensure Healthy Kidney Education is made simple to all. “The burden of kidney disease is huge and the cases in the country keep moving up the ladder and it will take some of us, who are already facing it to educate the populace. For every 10 admissions to a hospital emergency ward in Ghana, 4 admissions have kidney-related conditions. Hence, The Behind My Smiles Project is here to spread and make the education of Kidney Health simple, especially among the youth across the country”.
Miss Ashley also noted that ‘The Behind My Smiles Project’ would engage Kidney Specialists, Doctors, Dietitians and Exercise Therapists to sensitize the youth on the importance of the kidneys and staying healthy during their tour in some of the major Junior and Senior High Schools.
She, however, advised the general public to be health conscious, exercise regularly, drink more water and reduce the intake of salt.
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