Dialysis, the treatment for kidney failure, continues to take a toll on many Ghanaian households.

A yet-to be aired documentary by GHOne TV tells the story of a teen girl who is struggling in her dialysis journey.

Ama (her pseudonym) and her family are no longer able to fund the treatment of their child. The financial and psychological burden has taken a toll on the family.

Interacting with the media, Ama broke down several times, with tears falling from her checks, as she shared her struggles in receiving treatment.

On finances, Ama noted that she most often takes in no food when her family struggles to raise funds for her treatment.

"If the day for our dialysis approaches and we lack the funds, with nothing in the house to eat, I lose my appetite entirely," she said.

The treatment takes a toll on one's body, and for Ama, sleep evades her whenever she visits the hospital.

"At first when I started the dialysis, whenever I go for dialysis and come back, I will not sleep."

Although Ama remains hopeful of a better future for herself and others like her, her present situation presents the most painful part of her young life.

"It is the most painful thing in life, what I go through, I don't want the young ones who are coming to go through that," she tearfully said.

To aid Ama, kindly send all donations to…

MTN MOMO: 0557933570

NAME: EIB NETWORK REFERENCE: DIALYSIS

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NAME: EIB NETWORK BRANCH: RING ROAD CENTRAL

Ghana's struggle with dialysis

Recent fee hikes for dialysis treatment at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital and Korle Bu Teaching Hospital raised concerns about the affordability of care for patients. Some patients have tragically died due to financial constraints.

On the matter, Health Minister designate, Dr. Bernard Okoe-Boye, is advocating for the removal of taxes on dialysis consumables to ease the financial burden on renal patients in Ghana.

Aside from the financial constraint, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) is facing a critical shortage of dialysis machines, with the hospital's Chief Executive Officer, Professor Dr. Otchere Addai-Mensah, revealing that they have no more than two machines available.

During a meeting with Finance Minister-designate, Mohammed Amin Adams, KATH's Chief Executive Officer, Professor Dr. Otchere Addai-Mensah, emphasized that the hospital's two dialysis machines are insufficient to meet patient demand.

Insufficient dialysis equipment at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) has led to the redirection of some patients to private facilities.

The hospital, known for its role as a referral center, is struggling to meet the needs of its dialysis patients due to a shortage of equipment.

Dr. Addai pointed out that due to the lengthy duration of each dialysis session, patients may experience extended wait times if there is a large queue.

Furthermore, he highlighted that the hospital has been without a mammography machine for the past 18 years.