The Founder and Director of Kidney Health International, Dr. Elliot Koranteng Tannor, has called on the government to consider adding kidney treatment to diseases taken care of by the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
According to him, this, if done would, go a long way to support people suffering from kidney diseases.
He explained that chronic kidney disease was progressively becoming a major public health problem in Ghana, with increasing incidences and prevalence.
Globally it is estimated that one out of 10 people have chronic kidney disease.
The prevalence of chronic kidney disease is about 14 out of every 100 people in Africa, according to a study, and in Ghana, 13 out of 100 people have chronic kidney disease. This translates into some four million Ghanaians.
Unfortunately, most people are unaware of the causes, symptoms and consequences associated with chronic kidney disease.
To help reduce the burden of the disease, Kidney Health International has intensified its educational campaign in the month of March to ensure that all Ghanaians get to know about the disease and how to prevent it.
Speaking to the Eastern File in an exclusive interview, Dr. Tannor stressed the fact that most people who report with kidney disease, do it late resulting in complications.
He quoted a study conducted at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital to buttress the point that over 70% of patients with kidney disease report with organ failure, and about 30-50% die on admission due to multiple complications and the inability to afford treatment.
It was on this note that he called on all to add their voices to advocate for government support for people suffering from kidney disease to do so.
The treatment for kidney disease is a rather expensive, and very few people are able to afford it. Many resort to using traditional and social media to solicit support from the public.
According to Dr Tannor, kidney disease is not one of the conditions that are supported by the National Health Insurance Scheme. This meant anyone who suffered from the condition has to bear every cost associated with it.
The post Join us to advocate for kidney health treatment on NHIS appeared first on The Chronicle Online.
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