Commentary

Kidney failure cases escalate among Ghanaian Youth

By Tehn Lennox Akpetey, Development Communication Analyst

Kidney failure also called end-stage renal disease, ESRD, is the last stage of chronic kidney disease. When kidneys fail it means they have stopped working well enough for one to survive without dialysis or a kidney transplant. Kidneys can lose up to 90 per cent of their function and still do their job pretty well. Losing more than that is considered kidney failure. There are two types of kidney failure: Acute kidney failure is a sudden loss of kidney function. It’s usually reversible. Chronic kidney failure is a gradual loss of kidney function. It gets worse over time and isn’t reversible (but you can slow its progression).

In most cases, Kidney failure is caused by other health problems that have done permanent damage or harm to the kidneys little by little, over time. when your kidneys are damaged, they may not work as well as they should. If the damage to your kidneys continues to get worse and your kidneys are less able to do their job you have chronic kidney disease. Kidney failure is the last and most severe stage of chronic kidney disease. Diabetes has been identified as the number one cause of kidney failure. High blood pressure is the second most common cause of ESRD. There are other causes such as autoimmune diseases such as lupus and IgA nephropathy, urinary tract diseases, genetic diseases such as polycystic kidney disease. The kidneys sometimes stop working suddenly for some days- this type is called acute kidney injury or acute renal failure. Health experts have identified some common causes of acute renal failures including, heart attacks, illegal drug use, drug abuse, not enough blood flowing to the kidneys, urinary tract problems.

This type is not always permanent. Health experts have said that having one of the health problems that can lead to kidney failure does not mean that you will have kidney failure. Living a healthy lifestyle and working with your doctor to control these health problems can help your kidneys work for as long as possible. Lack of knowledge is killing a lot of young lives today through kidney failure. A deliberate education on the dos and don’ts about the kidneys is important in arming everyone about how the kidneys function and the role they perform in our body to keep us alive. A communication strategy must be based on educating the public about the function of kidneys- filter waste and extra fluid out of your blood so they can be removed from your body in your urine. There should be an awareness creation about kidney failure among the youth. These days, it is common to see 16-year-old suffering from kidney failure.

The strategy should focus on addressing the problem of kidney failure among the youth by cataloguing the causes. Once the causes are identified, we can advocate for the cessation of the acts that affect the kidneys, leading to failure. The health experts and health stakeholders should mobilise both human and capital resources to educate and inform the youth on how to manage their blood sugar because diabetes increases the risk for heart disease and kidney failure. Managing your blood pressure helps in preventing kidney failure. Reducing salt intake, drinking enough water and eating a healthy diet that is low in sugar and cholesterol but high in fiber, whole grains, fruits and vegetables help prevent weight gain.

Limiting alcohol intake, avoiding smoking, avoiding over-the-counter medicine, avoiding stress and last but not least exercising regularly should keep your kidneys healthy. Above all, a periodic medical evaluation should be on the front burner of any communication strategy. Citizens should be encouraged to seek medical care. We cannot continue to lose budding talents to death due to deliberate ignorance by both citizens and authorities.