UTV’s Abigail Ashley Calls On Gov’t To Support Kidney Failure Patients

Health advocate and host for award winning health program ‘My Health My Life’ on UTV, Miss Abigail Ashley has called on the Akufo Addo-led government to support persons suffering from kidney failure through the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).

Ashley who was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease ‘stage 4’ ten years ago, noted that the dialysis is very expensive and “it kills the patients than the disease itself”

She believes kidney failure patients will live longer if there is a subsidy on the expensive drugs, laboratory tests and treatment they go through.

“The dialysis is very expensive and I think its killing people than the kidney disease, the thought of the price of the dialysis and the kidney transplant kills people…the drugs and injections are very expensive, and majority of people suffering from the deadly disease don’t have the money, so I think it will go a long way to help if government support in that regard with the NHIS, just to ease pressure on patients,” she told a Kumasi based radio station.

The ‘My Health My Life’ host however advised people suffering from the disease to check their diet and take their medication religiously.

“It will not be proper for kidney patients to do away with their medication and rely on God to do a miracle” she noted.

In an interview with Abusua FM, Abigail expressed optimism that “I will not die anytime soon. And I will not stop praying”

Adding that – “Alcohol intake should be in moderation, people should drink lots of water, they should exercise regularly and always try to be happy, they should reduce their salt intake, red meat and pray to God and stick to their medication. Those who have just been diagnosed of the disease, God is still in his miracle business, don’t lose hope, keep moving. Keep these things in mind, God, medication and diet; these are the things you should not live without”

Ashley is now the author of ‘A decade of my life, behind the smiles’ which goes for GH¢10.00 – the book is available at the forecourt of Peace FM, Kingdom bookshops in Kumasi City Mall (KCM), Ultimate FM, Hello FM office, Abusua FM and other book shops.