Dr Mensah Amoah, a physician specialist and nephrology fellow, has warned that chronic kidney disease (CKD) is increasingly a public health concern in Ghana, affecting an estimated 13% of adults, or about four million people, many of whom are unaware of their condition.

CKD is often detected only after severe kidney damage, making treatment costly and complex.

In Ghana, most patients seek care at stage five (kidney failure), when only dialysis or kidney transplantation are options—treatments that are expensive and largely inaccessible.

Alarmingly, many cases occur among Ghanaians aged 20 to 50, the country’s economically productive population.

Dr Amoah described CKD as a “silent disease,” noting that early detection through routine health screenings, such as annual urinalysis and kidney function tests, can significantly slow or prevent disease progression.

Urinalysis is widely available and covered under the NHIS.

Individuals with conditions like hypertension, diabetes, HIV, hepatitis B, kidney stones, or cancer are at higher risk and should monitor kidney health closely.

He advised preventive lifestyle measures, including:

- Reducing salt intake and eating balanced diets rich in vegetables

- Maintaining a healthy weight and exercising regularly (30–60 minutes, 3–5 times weekly)

- Avoiding excessive use of certain painkillers and unregulated herbal medicines

Dr Amoah emphasised that greater awareness, early screening, and healthier lifestyles are crucial to preventing CKD from becoming an even bigger health crisis in Ghana.