Professor shares insights on tackling kidney disease

Addressing kidney disease requires a multifaceted approach, incorporating early detection, accessible treatment options, skilled healthcare workers and supportive policies.

- OWN CORRESPONDENT

This is according to Professor Mignon McCulloch, head of the Clinical Unit of Paediatric Nephrology and Solid Organ Transplantation at the Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital (RCWMCH), who delivered her inaugural lecture titled “First aid for kids’ kidneys in Africa and beyond”.

“Only through global collaboration can we ensure that no patient is left behind,” she said.

Her presentation focused on using alternative forms of dialysis that do not rely on sophisticated technology. Professor McCulloch's work demonstrates that African solutions for African problems exist, and with good results that can be applied elsewhere in the world.

She said chronic kidney disease (CKD) affects approximately 10% of the global population, yet many individuals remain undiagnosed until the disease has progressed to a critical stage. Risk factors such as diabetes, hypertension and genetic predisposition contribute significantly to CKD.