MANILA, Philippines - Every year since 2006, World Kidney Day has been celebrated on the second Thursday of March. This annual event is jointly sponsored by the International Society of Nephrology and the International Federation of Kidney Foundations and is the most-widely celebrated event associated with kidney disease throughout the world.
It is also the most successful in raising awareness among both the public and worldwide government health officials about the dangers of kidney disease, chief among them chronic kidney disease (CKD).
In the Philippines, the Philippine Society of Nephrology (PSN) spearheads the celebration of World Kidney Day with activities to be held in various local hospitals and health institutions to help raise kidney disease awareness.
CKD is a silent killer, and one out of 10 people all over the world has it. One in five men and one in four women between the ages of 65 and 74 have CKD.
In the Philippines, kidney disease ranks ninth among the leading causes of death based on the Department of Health (DOH) statistics for the past several years. The prevalence of kidney disease in the country is 9.4 percent, meaning approximately six million Filipino adults are suffering from kidney damage.
World Kidney Day hopes to help raise awareness about CKD and the importance of proper kidney care. The objectives include raising awareness about the kidneys and the key roles they play in the body; highlighting that diabetes and high blood pressure are key risk factors for CKD; encouraging systematic screenings of all patients with these key risk factors; further educating medical professionals about their role in detecting and reducing the risk of kidney disease especially in high population areas; supporting kidney transplant as the best-outcome option for kidney disease and promoting organ donation as a life-saving initiative; and stressing the importance of the role health authorities must play in controlling CKD.
This year’s theme is “Chronic Kidney Disease and Aging,†with the tagline “Your Kidneys Age, Just Like You.†In celebrating World Kidney Day 2014, the PSN has put together a host of activities with like-minded health organizations and institutions in the country.
A key event will be the Patient’s Benefits Forum today. In collaboration with Chinese General Hospital and Medical Center, the forum will be held at the sixth floor auditorium of the Chinese General Hospital and Medical Center in Manila from 8 a.m. to noon and will share with patients, family, and physicians the benefits entitled to kidney patients through various organizations such as the Social Security System, Philippine Health Insurance Corp., and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office. This is an especially important event as the rising costs of kidney treatments and transplants are a key factor in many patients not getting the help they need.
Other activities include screening and diagnostic activities and free kidney clinics, lectures and workshops for kidney professionals, lay fora for patients and families, and a post-graduate course entitled “Kidney in Focus†in Davao.
All of these events will be happening simultaneously until tomorrow across the country. In Metro Manila, events will happen in Chinese General Hospital and Medical Center, The Medical City, St. Luke’s Medical Center, Philippine General Hospital, Makati Medical Center, National Kidney and Transplant Institute, and other major hospitals, while provincial activities are headed by the PSN chapters nationwide.
For additional information, call the PSN secretariat at 687-1187 or visit Facebook.com/wkdphilippines2014 and www.worldkidneyday.org.