World Kidney Day Kidney Diseases Progress Silently; Regular Check-Ups Are Key – Dr Robert Yeboah Urges Ghanaians.

The Programme Director for Healthy Heart Africa at PATH Ghana, Dr Robert Yeboah, has called on Ghanaians to prioritise early detection and preventive care to reduce the growing burden of kidney disease in the country.

According to him, kidney diseases often develop silently and many people only become aware of the condition when it has progressed to advanced stages, making treatment more complicated and expensive.

Dr Yeboah made the call during the commemoration of World Kidney Day 2026, organized by PATH in collaboration with the Ghana Kidney Association.

The event, held under the theme “Kidney Health for All: Caring for People, Protecting the Planet,” highlighted the importance of prevention, early detection and timely management of kidney disease, while also promoting environmentally sustainable kidney care practices.

Speaking in an interview, Dr Yeboah explained that despite the critical role the kidneys play in maintaining overall health, many people neglect regular health check-ups that could help detect kidney disease early.

“Chronic kidney disease can develop without noticeable symptoms for years, which means many people are unaware they are affected until the disease has already advanced,” he said.

He noted that individuals suffering from hypertension and diabetes are particularly at high risk of developing kidney disease, stressing that regular medical screening is essential for such groups.

According to him, early testing and diagnosis can help prevent the disease from progressing to stage five, a condition where patients often depend on dialysis machines to survive.

Dr Yeboah disclosed that globally, chronic kidney disease (CKD) affects an estimated 850 million people, making it one of the major public health concerns worldwide.

“If CKD is not detected early and managed properly, it can progress to kidney failure, leading to severe complications and even premature death,” he warned.

In Ghana, he said, chronic kidney disease is becoming an increasing health priority with an estimated prevalence of 13.3 percent. However, awareness remains low, with only about 6 percent of the general population and 10 percent of high-risk groups aware of the disease and its associated risks.

As part of efforts to address the situation, Healthy Heart Africa (HHA), a health equity programme by AstraZeneca delivered in partnership with the Ministry Of Health and PATH is using the occasion to advocate for increased awareness, early screening and detection of chronic kidney disease.

Ghana is the first among nine countries to launch and implement the expanded scope of the Healthy Heart Africa programme.

The initiative, implemented in partnership with governments and non-governmental organisations, seeks to support the early prevention, detection and management of cardiorenal diseases across Africa.

In 2025 alone, Healthy Heart Africa and PATH screened over 28,000 patients living with hypertension and Type 2 diabetes for chronic kidney disease in the Greater Accra and Ashanti Region.

Dr Yeboah further cautioned Ghanaians against smoking, excessive intake of alcohol and physical inactivity which he described as major risk factors for kidney disease.

He therefore urged the public to adopt healthy lifestyles, including proper diet, regular exercise and routine medical check-ups to safeguard their kidney health.

He also stressed the importance of strengthening public awareness campaigns, integrating CKD testing into routine healthcare for high-risk populations, and promoting uptake of healthy lifestyles to help reduce the need for expensive interventions such as dialysis in the future.

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