The Chief Executive Officer of Garissa County Teaching and Referral Hospital, Mahat Salah, has called on residents to prioritize kidney health through regular screening and healthy lifestyles as the world marked World Kidney Day 2026.
Salah noted that kidney disease remains a growing public health concern, often progressing silently until it reaches advanced stages.
“Many people live with kidney disease without knowing it because symptoms may not appear early. Simple blood and urine tests can help detect kidney problems early and save lives,” he said.
This year’s World Kidney Day theme, “Kidney Health for All – Caring for People, Protecting the Planet,” underscores the need for equitable access to kidney care while promoting environmentally sustainable health services.
CEO Mahat Salah emphasized that chronic kidney disease affects about one in ten people globally and is closely linked to conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and obesity.
He urged residents, especially those at high risk, to seek regular medical check-ups.
“As a referral hospital serving Garissa County and the wider North Eastern region, we are strengthening awareness, prevention, and early detection programs to help reduce the burden of kidney disease in our communities,” he said.
He added that the hospital continues to support patients requiring specialized kidney care while promoting preventive measures such as drinking adequate water, maintaining a balanced diet, controlling blood pressure and blood sugar levels, and avoiding misuse of medications.
Mahat Salah also underscored that protecting kidney health goes hand in hand with protecting the environment, as some treatments, such as dialysis, consume significant amounts of water and energy.
World Kidney Day is marked annually on the second Thursday of March to raise awareness about the importance of kidney health and to reduce the global burden of kidney disease through prevention, early detection, and access to treatment.