— Dr Anup Kumar Barman The International Federation of Kidney Foundations conceived the idea of World Kidney Day in 2003 and was instrumental in bringing it to fruition. A joint venture between the International Federation of Kidney Foundations and International society of Nephrology, the first World Kidney Day was held on March 7, 2006 and nearly 45 countries enthusiastically observed the first World Kidney Day including India.
The theme of World Kidney Day 2008 was ‘Amazing Kidney’. It reinforces the positive message that kidney are wondrous organs. In 2007, the World Kidney Day campaign theme was ‘Are your kidneys OK?’ Studies around the globe have shown that even in the better educated and developed countries, fewer shown that even in the better educated and developed countries, fewer that 5 per cent of the population can provide accurate answers to questions about where the kidney are and what they do. The World Kidney Day 2007 campaign aimed at raising awareness at grassroots level and stimulating the curiosity of the general public to know and ‘understand’ more. However, the focus of the World Kidney Day is not to preach to the converted or educated nephrologists. Rather, it is to inform the general public, governments and health officials, as well as allied health professionals who are less aware of the key role of the kidney and the need for early detection of any kind of kidney impairment.
This year the objectives of the campaign are to raise awareness about our ‘Amazing Kidneys’ and stress the importance of early and comprehensive screening for people at risk of kidney disease, to highlight that high blood pressure is a key risk factor for chronic kidney disease. Better blood pressure control slows the progression of CKD, and makes it less likely that a patient will require dialysis or suffer from heart or other cardiovascular diseases. Another objective is to educate all medical professionals about their key role in detecting and reducing the risk of CKD, particularly in high risk population and to stress the important role of the 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. Governments are encouraged to take action and invest in further kidney screening.
The overall mission of world kidney day is to raise awareness among general public that kidney disease is common, harmful and treatable. It is hoped that over a period of years, the fact of holding an annual World Kidney Day will eventually result in a change of behaviour from all our target audiences. This is turn will lead to better health care for all concerned.
Today it is estimated that one out of ten adults has some form of kidney ailment. It is hoped that one day appropriate health care provision will systematically detect that ‘one’ early enough to offer treatment and thereby halt or slow down the progression of chronic kidney disease and other associated medical complications such as diabetes hypertension and cardiovascular disease. Each geographical region can adopt different priorities for World Kidney Day. Up to 90 per cent of people with chronic kidney disease remain unidentified, so the detection and management of chronic kidney disease will be the focus of World Kidney Day in many locations. That chronic kidney disease is a major public health problem is beyond dispute. It is obvious that an issue of this magnitude cannot be successfully managed by voluntary organisations alone. On World Kidney Day we must raise awareness about the heavy burden of chronic kidney disease on individuals and health-care budgets, and put chronic kidney disease on the agendas of governments and other institutions that shape health policy. World Kidney Day is an opportunity to launch high-profile initiatives and seek the endorsement of agencies that can help to ensure that such initiatives become embedded into routine health care.
On this day people are asked to check if they are at risk for kidney disease and to encourage more people to take simple kidney tests. Screening must be a high priority for people considered to be at risk of kidney disease. The early detection of kidney impairment is essential and allows suitable treatment before kidney damage or deterioration manifests itself through other complications.
Screening must be high priority in people considered to be at high risk or kidney disease, namely patients with diabetes mellitus and hypertension, individuals who are obese or who smoke, individuals over 50 years of age and individuals with a family history of kidney disease, diabetes mellitus or hypertension.
High blood pressure is an important risk factor in chronic kidney disease patients and needs to be carefully monitored. When people suffer from high blood pressure it puts more stress on blood vessels throughout the body, including the kidneys. When this happens kidneys cannot filter wastes from the blood properly. Achieving the recommended blood pressure goals can reduce the risk of needing dialysis or experiencing a heart attack or stroke.
(Published on the occasion of World Kidney Day observed on March 12) ASSAM TRIBUNE
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