Anglogold Ashanti takes urgent action against rising kidney cases in Obuasi

The Anglogold Ashanti Health Foundation, the main referral hospital in the Adansi enclave in the Ashanti region, has been recording a high number of kidney cases.

According to the hospital, 2 out of 10 persons admitted to the medical wards have chronic kidney diseases.

The figure constitutes about 20 per cent of the facility’s yearly admissions. Alarmed by the situation, AngloGold Ashanti Obuasi Mine decided to intervene through their quarterly community health outreach 'mini clinic' at Anyinam in the Obuasi Municipality, to create awareness and screen people for kidney infections and other ailments.

Speaking at the event which coincided with the commemoration of World Kidney Day, the Superintendent, Stakeholder and Land Management of Anglogold Ashanti, Emmanuel Massey who represented the Community Relations Manager, said the Obuasi Mine is committed to turning the catchment communities into healthy and thriving ones with impactful health programmes, policies and projects.

“At Anglogold Ashanti, our purpose is to mine to empower people and advance societies. One way we contribute to this mission is through the initiatives under our 10-year socio-economic development plan, which seeks to among other things, improve access to quality healthcare services and delivery within our host communities,” Mr. Massey said.

A Physician Specialist at the AGA Health Foundation, Dr. Suleimana Swabil bemoaned that while chronic kidney cases are on the rise, there are very few dialysis centers in Africa, including Ghana, very few nephrologists, and specialist nurses to take care of millions of people who have kidney disease.

He threw more light on the importance of the kidneys, emphasizing that they help filter over 50 gallons of blood every single day. "

The kidneys work every second, every minute, every hour in 24 hours in seven days. It does this and removes toxins. It balances our body’s fluid, "he added.

An Assistant Director at the Obuasi Municipal Assembly, Henry Yeboah, advised the people to take their health seriously and seek periodic checkups for early detection of problems.

More than 1000 people were screened for diseases like hypertension, blood sugar, and urine analysis to determine their health status. Those with serious complications, including kidney infections, were referred to the AGA Health Foundation for further treatment.

Even though the people were provided various care including eye, dental, X-ray, HIV and AIDS, with pharmaceutical services to cater for ailments such as malaria, the focus was on screening for kidney health.

The Mini Clinic is organized by Anglogold Ashanti in partnership with the Ghana Health Service, the Otumfuo Osei Tutu Foundation, AGA Health Foundation, Quantum LC among others.