Firm Health Ghana Foundation Screens the people of Nzulezu as part of 2017 World Kidney Day Celebrations

Nzulezu (Beyin), March 9, 2017 - Firm Health Ghana Foundation, a non-governmental pro-health organisation, has organised a free kidney screening and consultation for more than 400 people at Nzulzu in the Ellembelle District to mark the 2017 World Kidney Day.

The exercise offered the people the opportunity to check their blood pressure and sugar levels and receive medications, where necessary. Those suffering from diarrhea, malaria, waist pains and mild health problems were also treated.

The Director of Medical Services for the NGO, Dr. Joseph Darko, who also works at the Old Tarkwa Government Hospital, said the day was set aside to advocate the important role that our kidneys play in our overall body system. The celebration which was on the theme "KIDNEY DISEASES AND OBESITY, HEALTHY LIFSTYLES FOR HEALTHY KIDNEYS".
He said those who would prove positive for kidney infection after the screening would be advised to seek further medical treatment.
The Day is observed on the second Thursday in March.
Dr. Darko observed that diabetics and hypertensive patients were prone to kidney failure; as well as cigarette smokers, excessive alcohol consumers, those with sedentary lifestyles or exercised irregularly.
He, therefore, advised those with such negative lifestyles to refrain from it in order to promote healthy living.
He explained that it was difficult to detect kidney infections early; however, common symptoms such as nausea, the passage of scanty urine, as well as swollen face and legs were clear indications that someone had kidney infections.
He said the kidney was a vital organ that removed waste substances from the body and its dysfunction would be detrimental to the proper functioning of the entire body.
Therefore, kidney failure would require the person to undergo dialysis treatment three times a week which is a very expensive procedure.
All participants were taken through Blood Pressure Checks to ascertain their Body Mass Index (BMI), Blood Sugar Test and Urinalysis Test to check for protein and glucose traces in their urine samples. Those with high degrees of traces were referred to the EIKWEI Government Hospital for further checks. Medications were thus given to those with minor health issues.

The exercise commenced at 8:30 am and ended at 4:00pm. A team of fifteen (15) medical personnel led by Dr. Joseph Darko (Head of Medical Services, Firm Health Ghana Foundation) and Akpah Sylvester (Director of Operations, Firm Health Ghana Foundation) undertook the exercise.
The chief of the community applauded the NGO for the intervention and asked other philanthropist organisations to emulate the gesture. The Foundation was established in 2012 in the Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipality, in the Western Region, with a vision to build the first dialysis centre in the Region to support people with kidney malfunction.

It also organises monthly health walks, weekly health radio programs on two (2) local radio stations in Tarkwa and free community-to-community kidney screening exercises on regular basis for residents.