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The recent news of young Nigerian video director TG Omori's battle with kidney disease has shaken many, especially considering his vibrant career and youthful age.
This sobering revelation highlights a growing health crisis that is often overshadowed. In the current age of advanced retroviral drugs, kidney disease particularly at the end-stage requiring dialysis proves to be a far more deadly threat in comparison to HIV.
HIV and kidney disease both impact the lives of those affected. HIV, once a certain death sentence, with a lot of stigma has been transformed by the advent of highly effective antiretroviral therapy (ART). Today, individuals with HIV can live long, healthy lives with proper medication, maintaining undetectable viral loads that prevent the progression of the disease and transmission to others.
In contrast, kidney disease, particularly when it progresses to end-stage renal disease (ESRD), offers no such optimism. ESRD occurs when the kidneys can no longer function at a level needed to sustain life without dialysis or a kidney transplant.
Dialysis, while life-saving, is an incredibly taxing process that comes with a host of complications. Aside from the heavy financial burden, patients must endure multiple sessions each week, which can severely impact their quality of life. Moreover, the life expectancy for those on dialysis is grim, with a significant percentage of patients succumbing to the disease within a few years, especially if a suitable donor for a transplant is not found.
Kidney disease rarely comes alone.It often arrives as part of a deadly triad alongside diabetes and hypertension. These conditions, which are increasingly common among the youth and young adults in Ghana, form a vicious cycle that accelerates the decline in kidney function. Diabetes leads to high blood sugar levels that damage the kidneys' filtering units, while hypertension puts excessive pressure on the delicate blood vessels within the kidneys, leading to scarring and eventual failure.
This triangle of diseases is particularly alarming because it reflects broader lifestyle issues, including poor diet, lack of exercise, and high levels of stress factors that are becoming increasingly prevalent in Ghanaian society. As the youth and young adults face mounting pressures, from economic struggles to academic demands, the rise in these chronic conditions is inevitable unless immediate and effective preventive measures are taken.
In Ghana, the prevalence of kidney disease among the youth and young adults is alarming. Factors such as the increasing consumption of processed foods high in salt and sugar, sedentary lifestyles, and a lack of regular medical check-ups contribute significantly to this trend.
Unfortunately, by the time many young Ghanaians are diagnosed with kidney disease, it is often too late, and the options are limited to dialysis or seeking a transplant, both of which are not only financially draining but also emotionally and physically taxing.
Given the deadly nature of kidney disease, especially in its advanced stages, it is crucial to adopt preventive measures early in life. Regular medical check-ups to monitor blood pressure and blood sugar levels, maintaining a balanced diet rich in fruits, and vegetables, and low in salt, as well as engaging in regular physical activity, are essential steps in reducing the risk of developing these conditions. Additionally, raising awareness about the dangers of untreated hypertension and diabetes, particularly among the youth, can help curb the rising tide of kidney disease in Ghana.
While HIV remains a serious health concern, the emergence of effective treatments has shifted the focus to other, more deadly diseases that continue to claim lives silently. Kidney disease, especially when combined with diabetes and hypertension, poses a far greater threat to the youth of Ghana today.
The tragic news of TG Omori's kidney disease should serve as a wake-up call for all,prompting both individuals and healthcare systems to prioritize the prevention and early detection of kidney-related conditions. Only through proactive measures can we hope to stem the tide of this deadly disease and protect the health of future generations.
