WORLD
KIDNEY DAY (THE 8TH WORLD KIDNEY DAY - THURSDAY 14 MARCH 2013)
Kidney Day is
observed all over the world on the second Thursday of March every year.
Incidence of kidney failure cases is increasing day by day due to a steep
increase in the number of diabetes and hypertensive patients in the recent
past. Globally, nearly 50 million people suffer from renal failure but only 1
million among them undergo treatment. It has been estimated that 360 million
people will die of renal failure in 2015. Though there are no accurate
statistics on the subject, the available data shows that 7.58 million people in
India are suffering from kidney failure. Surveys conducted point out that less
than 5%of the general public is aware of the location and functions of the
kidney. It was to create awareness among the people that Joel Kopple, the
founder of International Federation of Kidney Foundations (IFKF), conceived the
idea of World Kidney Day (WKD) in the year 2003. The day offers a crucial and
visible opportunity to educate policymakers as well as the general public
including all those who are at the risk of kidney disease/failure.
The kidney does
a magnificent job in our urological system, thus becoming a unique organ in the
body. Every day, it filters 200 litres of blood. It is an amazing organ not
only excreting urine from the blood, but also maintaining the body electrolyte,
maintaining blood pH, synthesises active form of vitD3. It produces
Erythroprotien, which is essential for maturation of the red blood corpuscles
and to maintain the blood pressure. Then why does the kidney fail? It can fail
due to uncontrolled hypertension, diabetes, failure to take proper treatment
for the nephritic syndrome (excess protein in the urine), prolonged obstruction
in the urinary tract, frequent use of analgesic (pain-killers) tablets, use of
native medicine made of the metals, and a family history of renal disease. Some
do suffer from kidney failure, without any specific or identifiable cause.
Various reports from Sri Lankan studies reveal that environmental factors like
the use of pesticides, use of medicines containing metals, hydrocarbon, etc.,
too can cause kidney failure.
Chronic kidney
failure causes severe economic burden to the individual and his family, and to
the nation as a whole on dialysis and renal transplantation. Such patients
undergo a lot of stress and strain for want of a potential donor for
transplant, most often resulting in depression. With frequent rackets and
malpractices involving kidney donation which have become common, in spite of
the strict enforcement of rules, the motivation of brain-death patients for
organ donation is the only alternative for transplantation. Prevention is
always better than cure. In order to prevent kidney failures, it is essential
that everyone knows about the kidney and its importance. There are eight golden
rules which help to avoid kidney failures.
Keep fit and
active. Maintain ideal body weight. 2. Keep regular control of blood sugar. 3.
Monitor your blood pressure. 4. Eat healthy and keep your weight in check. 5.
Maintain a healthy fluid intake. 6. Do not smoke. 7. Do not take
over-the-counter pills regularly. 8. Check your kidneys function if you have
any one or more of the high risk factors. The theme for the this year's World
Kidney Day (March 8) was: “DONATE — RECEIVE — KIDNEYS FOR LIFE” World Kidney day
is a joint initiative of the International Society of Nephrology (ISN) and the
International Federation of Kidney Foundations (IFKF) The mission of World
Kidney Day is to raise awareness of the importance of our kidneys to our
overall health and to reduce the frequency and impact of kidney disease and its
associated health problems worldwide. Highlight that DIABETES AND HIGH BLOOD
PRESSURE are key risk factors for Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)Encourage
systematic screening of all patients with diabetes and hypertension for CKD’Educate
all medical professionals about their key role in detecting and reducing the
risk of CKD, particularly in high risk populations.-Stress the important role
of local and national health authorities in controlling the CKD epidemic.
Health authorities worldwide will have to deal with high and escalating costs
if no action is taken to treat the growing number of people with CKD. On World
Kidney Day all governments are encouraged to take action and invest in further
kidney screening-Encourage Transplantation as a
best-outcome option for kidney failure, and the act of organ donation
as a life-saving initiative.
Prof. John Kurakar
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