Kidney disease a 'silent killer' as cases surge

There is a growing burden of kidney disease in Zimbabwe and across the globe that must be urgently addressed to safeguard the health of future generations, National Men's Forum Health Advisor Obadiah Moyo has said.

Speaking ahead of World Kidney Day, to be commemorated on March 12, the former Minister of Health and Child Care warned that kidney disease is driving premature mortality and is projected to become the fifth leading cause of death globally by 2050.

"Kidney disease is a silent killer. It often shows no symptoms until it is advanced," said Dr Moyo.

"We must encourage our people to get tested early through simple procedures like urine albumin tests, serum creatinine tests, and glomerular filtration rate estimation. Early detection saves lives and reduces costs for families and the health system."

Dr Moyo said kidney disease affects more than 850 million people worldwide — exceeding 10 percent of the global population. Globally, the condition claims between five and 11 million lives annually and consumes up to five percent of healthcare budgets.

He emphasised that kidney disease must be treated as a national priority.

"We cannot afford to ignore this growing crisis. By investing in awareness, prevention, and sustainable kidney care models, Zimbabwe can save lives, protect families, and contribute to Vision 2030's goal of a healthier, more prosperous nation," he said.

This year's World Kidney Day theme is "Kidney health for all – Caring for people, protecting the planet." Dr Moyo said the National Men's Forum saw it as critical to raise public awareness about kidney health and the prevention of renal disease.

"In low-resource settings, 90 percent of patients needing dialysis cannot access it, resulting in millions of preventable deaths each year globally. Even in high-income countries, kidney replacement therapy consumes between two and four percent of health budgets. Therefore, we are urging everyone to work towards preventing kidney disease," he said.

He also highlighted the link between environmental pressures and kidney health, noting that climate change and rising temperatures can increase the prevalence of tropical diseases, which in turn can lead to kidney-related illnesses. At the same time, kidney treatments place strain on the environment through high energy consumption, excessive water use, plastic waste, and greenhouse gas emissions.

"Let's talk and share knowledge about the disease and how to prevent it," he said.

Kidney disease is closely associated with hypertension, diabetes, obesity and cardiovascular conditions. Dr Moyo said empowering communities with knowledge could help the country achieve measurable results, including a targeted 20 percent reduction in kidney-related deaths as Zimbabwe advances towards becoming an upper middle-income economy by 2030.

He called for expanded education and awareness campaigns in schools, workplaces and communities, as well as stronger health systems for prevention, early detection and advanced treatments such as transplantation.

To address risk factors including obesity, diabetes and hypertension, he urged public health initiatives that promote smoking cessation, reduced alcohol consumption, lower salt and sugar intake, and responsible use of agrochemicals.

Dr Moyo also advocated for reducing the environmental footprint of kidney treatment through green technologies, green certification of dialysis units, and the establishment of national kidney registries to guide evidence-based policy making.

He concluded that with coordinated action, Zimbabwe can curb the growing impact of kidney disease and protect the health of future generations.