A 14-year-old renal patient who had appealed for support in an interview with JoyNews has tragically passed away while undergoing dialysis at the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital. The young girl, Priscilla Asante, lost her battle with renal failure, with her mother, Madam Ruth, confirming her passing at 1 a.m. on a Sunday.

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Madam Ruth recounted that she noticed her daughter bloating on the day of her death, and the doctor had informed her that both of Priscilla's kidneys had failed.The headmaster of Mampong Catholic A Basic School, where Priscilla was a student, revealed that the school had observed unusual changes in her condition days before her passing and had sent her home to her parents.

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Unfortunately, there was a delay in sending her to the hospital due to financial constraints.Priscilla's mother explained that her daughter's death occurred just a month after she began dialysis treatment, and the family was faced with the daunting prospect of needing GH¢‎1000 every week for her dialysis. The family had already incurred significant debts in their efforts to support her medical care.

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Madam Ruth appealed to the government to reduce the cost of dialysis treatment, especially for individuals from lower-income households grappling with renal failure.Priscilla's tragic passing came shortly after her interview with JoyNews was aired. In the interview, she had spoken about missing classes to receive treatment at the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital and had shared her dream of becoming a nurse.

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Background:In recent weeks, there has been public outcry over the escalating cost of dialysis, a crucial treatment for individuals with kidney failure in Ghana. Reports indicated that the cost of dialysis per session at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital had surged by over 100%, causing distress for those with kidney conditions.

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This increase in costs has posed significant challenges for patients who cannot afford the treatment, leading to the deaths of several individuals. The Renal Patients Association of Ghana reported that fourteen of its members had passed away between May and September at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, primarily due to shortages of consumables and limitations in dialysis services.

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