– Dr. Norton stresses that prevention is better than cure

MINISTER of Public Health Dr. George Norton has issued a warning that the burden of diseases from Chronic Failure in all populations tends to be seriously underestimated, given under-recognition of the condition.
During an address to a gathering at the Grand Coastal Hotel, he disclosed that conducting a quality-of-life survey on persons living with chronic renal failure was one of the best options to consider, since “we are living in the age where we are being plagued with such incidents.”
In Guyana, there are incidents of chronic kidney diseases among patients suffering from diabetes, high blood pressure and other non-communicable diseases.

“This condition damages a person’s kidneys and decreases one’s ability to live a healthy life. Our kidneys perform very varied and complex functions which are essential to preserve our health. Consequently, chronic kidney disease can in itself lead to high blood pressure, anaemia (low blood count), weak bones and poor nutritional health among others,” stressed Dr. Norton.
However, early detection and treatment can control the progress of chronic kidney disease. When this disease progresses, it may eventually lead to kidney failure, and may require dialysis or kidney transplant. Both are expensive and burdensome for the patients, caregivers and on the health budget.
Nevertheless, he lamented that even when undiagnosed, it impacts on health resource utilisation in its early stages through its associated hypertension, anaemia and other complications

As such, the Ministry of Public Health has also developed strategic partnerships with international universities and hospitals.
In 2014, a team of medical experts from the University of Calgary visited Guyana and engaged our local health professionals in a number of Continuing Medical Education (CME) sessions in the area of Chronic Kidney Diseases.
Subsequently, a team of general medical practitioners from the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), headed by a Guyana-born transplant surgeon from Canada, performed a successful kidney transplant on a 24-year-old man.
The team was spearheaded by transplant surgeon, Dr. Kishore Persaud, who is a product of the University of Calgary in Canada. Ever since, Dr. Kishore Persaud and his team have been doing great work at the GPHC’s Nephrology Department.

“Just this year also, the department received eight dialysis machines from the Division of Nephrology and Hypertension of the University of Vermont’s Medical School,” said the minister.
Nevertheless, issues relating to Chronic Kidney Disease and Kidney Failure will continue to be addressed at a national level through initiatives to support treatment and management of renal-related problems.
The minister, however, alluded to the fact that prevention was better than cure, noting early detection and healthy lifestyles in children, starting at birth and continuing through to old age, were crucial in preventing kidney damage or kidney diseases.
Even in adults, adapting healthy lifestyles can reduce one’s chance of developing medical conditions which can later lead to chronic kidney failure.