 Chronic
Kidney Disease (CKD) is very common and is mainly associated with ageing.
The older you get, the more likely you are to have some degree of kidney
disease. It is estimated that about one in five men and one in four women
between the ages of 65 and 74 has some degree of CKD. However, CKD in
Africans start at an early age. The mean average age for CKD in Africans is
34 and many kidney patients in Africa are below 25 years.
The most common cause of CKD is damage caused by other
chronic conditions, such as high blood pressure (hypertension) and diabetes.
CKD is more common in Africans than the general
population. The reasons for this include higher rates of diabetes and higher
rates of high blood pressure in African or Caribbean people
CKD is a potentially serious condition. People with CKD
are known to have an increased risk of a stroke or heart attack because of
the changes that occur to the circulation.
In some people, CKD may cause kidney failure, which
is also known as
established renal failure (ERF) or end-stage kidney disease. In this
situation, the usual functions of the kidney stop working. In order to
survive, people with ERF may need to have artificial kidney treatment,
called dialysis.
However, if the condition is diagnosed at an early stage,
further damage to the kidneys can be prevented with a combination of
lifestyle changes and medication. These changes can also reduce your risk of
a stroke or heart attack. It is, therefore, very important to help yourself
as much as you can.
Africa Renal Programme aims to improve the renal health of
African people through awareness of kidney diseases and risk factors such as
high blood
 pressure and diabetes, the main causes of kidney disease. It also
improves the renal health through early detection using kidney screening of
renal factors.
We have three projects currently running, African Kidney
Awareness Project (AKAP) funded by the Department of Health and Young
Africans Kidney Project (YAKIP) funded by BBC Children in Need.
To get involved or
for more information, please contact us on email:
africa.renal@aho.org.uk
or info@afrekid.org
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