From Kumasi to KwaZulu-Natal: Abigail Amoah’s Journey to a PhD in Nursing

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When Dr Abigail Amoah walked across the Graduation stage at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) this September, she carried not only the pride of personal achievement but also the hopes of countless children living with chronic kidney disease in Ghana.

Born and raised in Kwadaso Estate, a small town in Kumasi, Ghana, Amoah developed a passion for nursing from an early age. Her dedication to nephrology nursing was sparked by a deeply personal encounter during her second year of training at Kumasi Nursing Training College, when she befriended a young patient in the paediatric medical ward. The child later fell gravely ill with acute glomerulonephritis - a renal condition - and sadly passed away despite receiving medical care.

“That moment stayed with me,” Amoah recalls. “I wanted to understand what had happened and how I could make a difference for children with kidney disease.” This experience set her on a path of lifelong commitment to paediatric nephrology nursing. After completing her first degree, she pursued a Master’s in Nursing at the University of Cape Town (UCT), focusing her research on why primary caregivers often delay seeking care for children with chronic kidney disease in Ghana.

Currently a Principal Nursing Officer and Head of the Paediatric Nephrology Unit at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), a unit she co-founded, Amoah has built an impressive career dedicated to advancing nephrology nursing. Her expertise and leadership were recognised in 2022 when she was elected a Fellow in Nephrology Nursing by the Ghana College of Nurses and Midwives, where she now serves as Faculty Chair for Nephrology Nursing.

Amoah’s PhD dissertation, titled: ‘Development of the Stage-Appropriate Guidelines for a Nurse-Led Intervention for Improving the Quality of Life for Children Living with Chronic Kidney Disease in Ghana: A Community Readiness Model’, addressed a critical gap in healthcare. Supervised by the College of Science’s Dean of Teaching and Learning, Professor Sinegugu Evidence Duma, Amoah explored the readiness of the nursing community in Ghana to implement nurse-led interventions for children with chronic kidney disease. Using the Community Readiness Model, she found that the nursing community is at the preplanning stage of readiness and, from her findings, developed stage-appropriate guidelines to support the introduction of nurse-led care models.

“My dream is to implement a nurse-led model of care in Ghana, creating awareness and improving outcomes for children with kidney disease,” she said.

Amoah’s achievements are also a testament to mentorship and support. She first met Duma during her Postgraduate Diploma in Nephrology Nursing at UCT, later working under her supervision for both her master’s and PhD. “Professor Duma saw potential in me and encouraged me to pursue this journey. She has been a true mentor, and her guidance has been invaluable,” Amoah said.

Beyond her professional life, Amoah enjoys romance novels, gospel music, reading the Bible, and spending time with family and friends. She also loves to travel, experiencing new cultures and broadening her perspective. Looking back, she credits her family as a pillar of strength: “My family has been a huge part of my success, and I appreciate them deeply.”

Words: MaryAnn Francis

Photograph: Sethu Dlamini