Health organizations in Ghana on Thursday marked World Kidney Day with public education and screening activities aimed at increasing awareness and promoting early detection of chronic kidney disease (CKD).
The commemoration, led by global health nonprofit PATH, the Ghana Kidney Association, the Ghana Health Service, and AstraZeneca through its Healthy Heart Africa programme, took place in Accra and Kumasi with community screening outreach and public lectures on kidney health.
World Kidney Day is observed globally on the second Thursday of March each year. The theme for the 2026 celebration is “Kidney Health for All: Caring for People, Protecting the Planet,” which highlights the link between human health and environmental sustainability while promoting early detection and prevention of kidney disease.
According to health experts, chronic kidney disease affects an estimated 850 million people worldwide. If undetected and untreated, the condition can progress to kidney failure, resulting in severe health complications and premature death.
In Ghana, CKD is considered an emerging public health concern, with an estimated prevalence of 13.3 percent. However, awareness of the disease remains low, with only about 6 percent of the general population and 10 percent of high-risk groups aware of the condition.
Health officials say the situation underscores the need for routine screening, especially among high-risk populations such as people living with hypertension and Type 2 diabetes, to enable early diagnosis and reduce long-term healthcare costs.
The commemoration also highlighted Ghana’s role as the first of nine African countries to launch and implement the expanded scope of the Healthy Heart Africa programme.
The initiative is designed to strengthen early prevention, detection and management of cardiovascular and kidney-related diseases across the continent through partnerships with governments and non-governmental organizations.
Through collaboration with the Ministry of Health (Ghana), the Ghana Health Service, and kidney health specialists, the programme supports improved healthcare delivery, advocacy, and public awareness on kidney disease and its risk factors.
Programme data indicate that more than 28,000 patients with hypertension and Type 2 diabetes in the Greater Accra and Ashanti regions were screened for chronic kidney disease in 2025 alone.
Organizers say promoting healthy lifestyles, improving access to early diagnosis and strengthening health systems are essential steps toward reducing the growing burden of kidney disease and other non-communicable diseases in the country.
Meanwhile, the World Health Organization has recognized kidney disease as a global health priority at the 78th World Health Assembly, a move advocates say will strengthen international and national efforts to improve kidney health.
Health advocates say the recognition should serve as a call for governments, health institutions and communities to prioritize kidney health as part of efforts to build a healthier and more sustainable future.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
