Kidney Savers' Fund launched
Audrey Micah, Ghanadot

Accra, May 14, Ghanadot - Kidney Savers, a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) based in Accra has launched a "Kidney Savers Fund" to help people struggling from kidney failures in the country.

The president of the organisation, Mrs. Rachel Wilkinson-Inja told GhanaDot that the idea behind the founding of the fund came from a group of friends who were desperately looking for a way to help one friend, Ms Cynthia Mainoo Greaves, a victim of  kidney failure.

She indicated that, this led to the visit of many hospitals in the country where the group met many other victims who were also looking for financial assistance to survive.

Mrs. Wilkinson-Inja noted that the kidney is a vital part of the internal body machine that keeps human beings alive, adding that kidney failure which attacks people from all ages from all walks of life is devastating not only to the sufferer, but to their families and friends.

Explaining further, she disclosed that the objective of the organisation is to solicit financial aid from people in order to help them survive the often costly, difficult, painful dialysis and the necessary medications to keep them alive.

According to her, the cost involved in staying alive with kidney failure in Ghana is beyond the financial capacity of many people.

“Dialysis cost as much GH 190 per session, some between 1-3 dialysis sessions in a week and others more”.

She revealed that the average total cost of some medications and laboratory work per month which differ from individual to individual is GH 1,200.

The president of the organisation indicated that there are currently 7 dialysis units in Ghana which include Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, with 25 dialysis machines, Tamale Hospital with 2, Family Health Hospital in Teshie with 3 and a few in other hospitals nationwide.

To her, the total machines of 25 country wide is not enough,  She also added that her team have met and asked questions of people suffering kidney failure in most of the hospitals who, in answering, attributed their survival not only on dialysis but the power of prayer and a complete change of dietary lifestyle.

She called on Ghanaians and companies in the country to put a lasting smile on the faces of victims of kidney failures by contributing to the fund.

The Minister of Health, Dr. George Sipa-Yankey, reiterated government preparedness to help the group, so that together they can support people living with renal problems.