Accra, Dec. 6, GNA - Dr. Dwomoa Adu, President of Ghana Kidney Association (GKA), on Monday said about five per cent of Ghanaians suffer from kidney problems without being noticed. He said some major causes of kidney problems were high blood pressure and diabetes.

Dr. Adu announced this at the inauguration of the association in Accra. The association was formed to alleviate suffering among patients with kidney disease by disseminating knowledge about kidney structure, function and seek the interest of patients who suffer from the disease in Ghana. The association would work in collaboration with the International Society of Nephrology (The branch of medicine concerned with the study and treatment of diseases of the kidneys), to ensure kidney care for Ghanaians. It would also work with the Ministry Of Health, College of Physicians and Surgeons as well as Kidney Surgeons and doctors from other specialties. Dr Adu said the association would work to develop education and prevention programmes to sensitise Ghanaians on the causes of kidney diseases as well as the need for early diagnosis of the disease. "We would focus on prevention by running screening programmes and educating people to have their kidneys screened when they visit their doctors," he said.

Other officers are Dr. Jacob Plange-Rhule, Vice President, Dr. Sampson Antwi, Secretary, Dr. Charlotte Osafo, Treasurer and two executive members, Professor Michael Mate-Kole and Professor Kwame Afram. They would act until the next general meeting of the association in February 2011.