Chronic kidney disease - The ‘neglected’ Non-Communicable Disease in Ghana

Authors

  • Elliot Koranteng Tannor Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31191/afrijcmr.v2i1.33

Keywords:

chronic kidney disease, Ghana, Non-communicable diseases

Abstract

Non communicable diseases (NCDs) have been of great concern lately with increasing morbidity and mortality. Despite the attention given to non-communicable diseases worldwide and in developing countries, chronic kidney disease and its complications is not highlighted. Chronic kidney disease has increasing incidence and prevalence and also complicates both communicable and communicable diseases. It has high morbidy, mortality and greatly affects quality of life.

In Ghana, chronic glomerulonephritis is the most common cause of chronic kidney disease followed by diabetes and hypertension. There is anecdotal evidence that the excessive use of herbal medications also compounds the problem. Management of end stage renal disease is very expensive and most patients cannot afford renal replacement therapy. A concerted effort is needed by all stakeholders to recognise kidney disease as an important non-communicable disease to reduce the disease burden.

Author Biography

Elliot Koranteng Tannor, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital

Dr Elliot Koranteng Tannor is a Specialist Physician and Nephrologist at the Komfo Anokye teaching Hospital (KATH). He is also an Adjunct Lecturer with the Department of Medicine of the School of Medical Sciences of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST). He is a Member of the West African college of physicians (WACP) and Fellow of the international society of Nephrologist (ISN) after training with Prof Razeen Davids in Tygerberg Hospital in Cape Town, South Africa from 2014-2016 passing the Nephrology certificate exams with Distinction and MPhil Nephrology with Cum laude.

During his stay in Tygerberg hospital he enhanced himself by taking up courses in Research Methodology, data management and exploratory data analysis organized by the Centre for Evidence based health care of the Stellenbosch University and Fundamentals of Epidemiology from 1st July to 30th November, 2015 organized by the Division of Community health of the Department of Interdisciplinary health sciences.

Dr. Tannor is a Principal Investigator of the KNUST site of the H3Africa Kidney disease research network. The H3Africa Kidney Disease Research Network has recruited over 7,000 subjects with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and controls into research studies. The study now embarks on genotyping of Apolipoprotein L1 (APOL1) gene variants in recruited subjects. These studies will allow an understanding of the contribution of APOL1 gene variants to the development of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in black Africans.

He is also in charge of the African association of Nephrologist (AFRAN) renal registry for the Kumasi site. His research interest are in lupus nephritis and quality of life in patients with chronic kidney disease and those on chronic dialysis and interested in using qualitative research to ascertain the quality of life of and patients with end stage renal disease on renal replacement therapy. 

 He is currently also rejuvenating the renal unit of the KATH with proper management of patients on hemodialysis and have started performing renal biopsies for the adequate management of kidney disease in KATH. He plans to start chronic peritoneal dialysis in adults at the KATH soon. He is also setting up a database for proper record keeping of patients with kidney diseases in the Ashanti region..

 

Elliot is also involved with advocacy to help prevent kidney diseases through talks on radio, television, churches and organizations. He is also a board member of a non-governmental Organization (NGO) involves in preventing non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, hypertension and kidney diseases. He has also written a lot of articles for publication in the most popular media houses in Ghana such as The Graphic, myjoyonline.com, and Ghana Business news.

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Published

08-03-2018

How to Cite

Tannor, E. K. (2018). Chronic kidney disease - The ‘neglected’ Non-Communicable Disease in Ghana. African Journal of Current Medical Research, 2(1). https://doi.org/10.31191/afrijcmr.v2i1.33

Issue

Vol. 2 No. 1 (2018): On your marks

Section

Invited Commentary

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Copyright (c) 2018 Elliot Koranteng Tannor

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