—Doctors urge early screening and healthier lifestyles as hundreds undergo dialysis treatment nationwide
KIDNEY disease continues to place a heavy burden on healthcare systems globally, and health officials in Guyana are warning that the illness is becoming increasingly prevalent locally, particularly among persons living with diabetes, hypertension and obesity.
During a recent episode of the Ministry of Health’s programme Health Matters, Technical Officer for Diabetes, Dr Nandishaw Ramsingh, said many persons fail to recognise that chronic conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure are major contributors to kidney disease.
She explained that kidney disease often develops silently over time, with many persons only seeking medical attention when the condition has already progressed significantly.
As of December 2025, Guyana recorded 655 persons undergoing dialysis treatment, a procedure used to remove waste and excess fluid from the blood when the kidneys can no longer function properly.
Highlighting the financial and emotional burden associated with dialysis, Dr Ramsingh urged citizens to take preventative measures seriously.
“So we want persons to know that if you’re a diabetic, a hypertensive person, if, for example, you find yourself to be a bit on the overweight side, that you really need to start looking at your health, try to take control of your diabetes, your hypertension; get moving, try to go to the park, any form of physical activity that you can do, any exercise,” she said.
Dr Ramsingh also identified late testing as one of the biggest challenges in Guyana’s fight against kidney disease.
According to her, many persons avoid regular health checks and only visit health centres after symptoms worsen.
She encouraged citizens to make use of the free Kidney Screening Voucher being offered by the Ministry of Health through the government’s health voucher initiative.
“You have an option; the power is in your hand. You have it. You can use it, and you want to check your kidneys, you want to check your cholesterol. You want to check your blood count. It’s there,” Dr Ramsingh said.
The health official noted that because kidney disease progresses gradually, persons should not wait for obvious symptoms before seeking medical testing. Instead, she advised individuals to pay close attention to their family history, especially if relatives have diabetes or hypertension.
She also stressed the importance of healthier diets and lifestyle changes to reduce the risk of developing chronic illnesses linked to kidney disease.
“So, we want persons to start looking at their diets too, because you’re going to need to look at what you’re eating in order to see how you can control or prevent these diseases,” she added.
Meanwhile, Paediatric Nephrologist at the Georgetown Public Hospital, Dr Areefa Alladin, said kidney disease in children is commonly linked to congenital anomalies affecting the kidneys and urinary tract.
These conditions, she explained, are often detected during antenatal ultrasound screenings conducted throughout pregnancy.
“We continue to image those patients, and we assess their risk factors of progression, and we work early to intervene to slow or stop those,” Dr Alladin explained.
She noted that recurrent urinary tract infections in children may also signal underlying kidney problems and should not be ignored.
“And if we notice children are having fever, difficulty passing urine, blood in the urine, et cetera, then those children need to be investigated for kidney disease with ultrasounds, urine studies, kidney function testing,” she said.
Although congenital kidney diseases cannot always be prevented, Dr Alladin said early intervention can significantly slow progression and reduce the likelihood of patients reaching end-stage kidney disease.
Also speaking on the programme was Dr Jenny Wichart, who is part of the multidisciplinary paediatric nephrology team. She described paediatric kidney disease as “very complex and multifaceted,” while underscoring the importance of collaborative care.
According to Dr Wichart, specialised teams are essential to ensuring that both patients and their families receive comprehensive support throughout treatment.
Health officials further noted that persons with kidney disease often experience symptoms such as nausea, fatigue and abnormal salt levels in the blood, many of which can be managed through proper dietary adjustments and medical care.
