Summary Report

Sunyani 8th – 10th March, 2016

 

1.0       Meeting Synopsis

The Ghana Kidney Association (GKA), with collaboration and support from the International Society of Nephrology (ISN), and Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons (GCPS), as well as, the School of Medical Sciences (SMS), Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), organized and hosted the celebration of the 2016 World Kidney Day in the Brong Ahafo Regional capital of Sunyani, from 8 – 10 March, 2016.

It brought together key stakeholders in the health sector of the country. The meeting had representations from medical doctors, physician assistants, medical assistants, nurses, laboratory technicians, pharmacists and researchers, and a cross section of audience from players in the public and private health sector of the country.

The objective of the meeting was to help further define issues and strategies of relevance to the treatment and management of kidney diseases in the country and also increase public awareness. The celebration was organized in three parts: an outreach to two basic schools in the Sunyani Metropolis, H3 Africa research recruitment at the Sunyani Municipal Hospital, and a Nephrology CME at the Sunyani Regional Hospital.

 

2.0       Medical Outreach – 8th March, 2016

An outreach was undertaken at two basic schools in the Sunyani metropolis namely; The Ghana Muslim Mission and Penkwase Basic Schools. Anthropometric measurements (height, weight and blood pressure) and urine samples were collected from pupils to check for protein in their urine which is a key indicator for onset of Kidney damage. The pupils, as well as, senior staff were later counselled on behavioural or lifestyle changes that could be made to prevent kidney and its related diseases.

 

3.0       H3 Africa Recruitment – 9 March, 2016

On the second day, a trip was made to the Sunyani Municipal Hospital. Patients who had reported to the Diabetic and Hypertensive Clinic of the hospital were informed and those who gave their written consents were recruited as part of the H3 Africa kidney research study currently being undertaken at the Komfo Anokye and Korle Bu Teaching Hospitals. At the end of the programme, about 25 patients were enrolled onto the study. The recruitment was done by the Research team from the Department of Physiology, School of Medical Sciences, KNUST.

 

4.0       Nephrology CME – 10th March, 2016

This meeting was officially opened by Dr Dwomoa-Adu of the Renal Unit of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital. Dr…..welcomed all to the meeting and subsequently introduced dignitaries present. She highlighted the importance of the meeting in developing and advancing medical practitioners’ knowledge on treatment and management of kidney diseases, as well as, key issues of relevance in this regard. She explained that the focus of this year’s world kidney day celebration was chronic kidney diseases in pediatrics and emphasised the importance of participants especially medical doctors and nurses playing an active role in the meeting in order to be well informed on the necessary knowledge required to treat and manage cases presented to them.

In order to inform the discussions during the course of the meeting, presentations were given in three thematic areas under three sessions and a guest lecture at the end:

Session 1 - Childhood Renal Disorders

Chair – Prof. Jacob Plange-Rhule

• Acute Kidney Injury in Children: Recognition & Management - Prof. Sampson Antwi
• Nephrotic Syndrome in Childhood                                         -  Prof. Sampson Antwi
• Dialysis where there is No Expertise                                      -  Dr. Adoma Fokuo

Session 2 – Adult Renal Disorders

Chair – Dr. Charlotte Osafo

• Management of Common Electrolyte Disturbances              - Dr. Vincent Boima
• Chronic Kidney Disease (Diagnosis & Management)            - Dr. Dwomoa Adu
• Hypertension in Pregnancy in Ghana: complications and prognosis - Dr. Adu-Bonsafoh

Session 3 – Adult Renal Disorders continued

Chair – Dr. Dwomoa Adu

• Prevention of Acute Kidney Injury in Pregnancy                   - Dr. Charlotte Osafo
• HIV associated Renal Disease                                               - Dr. Vincent Boima
• Management of Acute Kidney Injury                                      - Dr. Perditer Okyere
• Glomerulonephritis in Ghana                                                  - Dr. Charlotte Osafo / Dr. Adu

Session 4 – Guest Lecture

Chair: Dr. Dwomoa Adu

• Management of Hypertension                                                - Prof. Jacob Plange-Rhule

 

5.0       Closing

The meeting was officially closed by Dr. Dwomoa Adu of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital. He thanked all for their contribution to making the 2016 World Kidney Day a success. His closing remarks was followed by a photo session with participants at the conference after which certificates were also given out.