The Head of the Department of Medicine and Therapeutics at the University of Ghana Medical School (UGMS), Professor Vincent Boima, has called for affordable kidney care in Africa.

According to him, treatment across the continent must be accessible and free from stigma, allowing patients to seek care without fear.

He suggested that these obstacles could be reduced if more health professionals were trained in local communities to enhance adherence among patients.

Chronic Kidney Disease in Ghana: Treatment challenges and prevention tips

Speaking at the inaugural lecture held at the UG Great Hall on May 15, 2026, under the theme “From Genes to Mind: Holistic Pathways to Precision Kidney Care for Africa,” Prof Boima emphasised the need for technological advancement and highlighted research findings.

“We need care that is affordable. We need care that is faster to access. And we need care that is free of judgment, as stigma is one of the reasons many avoid hospitals. It is important to put measures in place that bring care directly to communities, right to the doorsteps of patients, to improve outcomes. Training community healthcare nurses and pharmacists could be strategic. That’s a task-shifting or task-sharing strategy that can be adopted to improve care,” he said.

He further explained that evidence from his research shows that health-related quality of life determinants of hypertension can improve adherence and outcomes. He stressed that adopting technology could also play a vital role.

“We conducted a systematic review in low- and middle-income countries and found that simple interventions like text messaging reduced high blood pressure, improved adherence to medication, and encouraged healthy lifestyle changes such as exercising, reducing smoking, and decreasing salt intake. This can be incorporated into our electronic medical record system,” he added.

Prof Boima also advocated for psychological screening to be prioritised in health facilities and for robust identification of chronic illnesses.

He emphasised that there is a huge gap in kidney care across the continent and urged stakeholders to embrace humane and precise medical care to bridge it.

“Psychological care cannot be divorced from chronic illness. We need integrated psychological screening in our clinics. We must go into communities, identify hypertension and other chronic illnesses, and treat them to delay the progression of chronic kidney disease or prevent other organ damage.

"Africa must not only participate in the era of precision medicine, we must help define it. A precision that is humane, ethical, and African. This is our scholarly responsibility,” he concluded.

SB/BAI

Watch the lecture below:



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