The leadership of the Renal Patients Association of Ghana has declared its intention to be present in Parliament on Thursday, November 9, to highlight the challenges its members face as individuals living with renal disease to the Minister of Health and members of the house.
Parliament has summoned the Minister of Health, Kwaku Agyeman-Manu, to appear before them on Thursday to explain the closure of the Renal Unit at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital.
The Health Minister is also expected to outline the government’s actions to address the issues that led to the unit’s closure and the increase in cases of kidney-related diseases.
Speaking to Citi News, the spokesperson for the association, Kojo Ahenkorah, appealed to philanthropic individuals to assist in facilitating the transportation of their members to Parliament on Thursday.
“It is something we want to do, but we don’t have the money to convey the people there. They want to go. So if we can get someone to give us a bus, then we can convey the people there. We want to go to let the Minister know the situation,” he stated.
Citi News has learned that the Renal Unit of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital has been reopened for outpatient services.
Mr. Ahenkorah pointed out that this move is a critical step in potentially saving the lives of renal patients.
“So if now they say they are going to pay, we thank God, but the problem is bigger than what we see now. We are happy we are about to open the unit for us so that we will go, and then GH¢380, we will manage it. It is not easy, but we will manage it, at least we will be a bit more relieved.”
“People will not die again as 19 people have died. So at least the death rate will come down a bit while we keep fighting for the right thing to be put in place.”
