Raising kidney awareness

Next week is being observed as World Kidney Awareness Week, under the theme 'Chronic Kidney Disease and Ageing' with the aim to raise awareness that chronic kidney disease can develop at any age but become more common with increasing age.

Internationally, a number of reports, including some from the Caribbean renal registry, have identified lifestyle-related diseases diabetes mellitus and hypertension as the leading causes of chronic kidney disease and end-stage renal disease. In fact, chronic non-communicable diseases, including chronic kidney disease, continue to be a major financial challenge in the Caribbean.

Patients with chronic kidney disease have high rates of health-care utilisation, morbidity and mortality, and hence, constitute a significant economic and clinical burden to the health-care system.

Jamaica's prevalence rate of chronic kidney disease is approximately 500 in every 100,000 persons. The working class accounts for the highest percentage, with more than 50 per cent of that number.

Adedamola Soyibo, consult-ant physician and nephrologist in the Department of Medicine at the University of the West Indies, said locally, they would continue the drive to identify, screen, treat and educate the nation.

Next week's Health section of The Gleaner will look more comprehensively at chronic kidney disease - prevention, causes and treatment.

TO DONATE

To donate a kidney or become an organ donor: visit any major hospital and sign up

For monetary donation:• The Jamaica Kidney Kids Foundation - PayPal account on website kidneykidsja.com; email: jakidney.kids@gmail.com; Dr Maolynne Miller - 876-391-5680

• The University Renal Foundation - Mr Adeniyi Soyibo, 876-276-7186

• The Caribbean Institute of Nephrology - Mr Adeniyi Soyibo, 876-276-7186