End-stage kidney disease and earlier stages of chronic kidney disease (CKD) represent one of the most dramatic examples of racial/ethnic disparities in health in our nation. People of African descent are 3 times more likely to require renal replacement therapy then other Canadian population groups. CKD-related disparities are linked to a variety of clinical, socioeconomic, and cultural factors, as well as to select social determinants of health that are defined by social positioning and often by race.
In 1995 Mr. Clayton was diagnosed with kidney disease and started kidney dialysis about twenty years later. He moved to Halifax to be close to the hospital where he went for his dialysis. Initially it was very challenging for him at the hospital due to the preconceived ideas that people had towards people of African ancestry and, therefore, the way he was treated when he went to the hospital. He had to educate the staff at the hospital on having respect for people of African descent and how to give him his treatment with respect and dignity. Things have changed a lot over the past seven years for which he is very grateful. He doesn't need to deal with that on top of having to manage his kidney disease.
Mr. Clayton decided to do something for the people of African descent when he became aware of the number of them that were coming in for dialysis. At first it was to help with transportation and nutrition and it grew into something more when he understood that there were black people coming for dialysis from across the province and they didn't have any support. There were some people, like George Borden, he knew of, but then, he would actually meet them during the dialysis clinic. He would see Black people on a regular basis and think that they were employees of the hospital and not realize that they were a dialysis patient until they switched to the clinic that he was attached to.
There are a lot of underlying diseases that are associated with kidney disease that people don't talk about but that need to be dealt with in order to stay healthy. He would see dialysis patients with underlying issues and he would ask them how he could help them. They would be so surprised when he would ask them how he could help them. He indicated that it is hard to get them to talk so that they can receive the help that they need. Too many people of African descent are suffering in silence and they are used to suffering in silence. Usually when it does come out that they have kidney disease they are given pity instead of concrete things that they can do to maintain their health and to live well even with kidney disease. Clifford says that he doesn't want or need pity. He feels that if you can't give something uplifting then don't give anything. He wants to help people and he sees that the kidney dialysis patients that are coming in seem to be getting younger and younger each year.