[www.inewsguyana.com] – On Thursday, March 12 Guyana will join the rest of the world to observe World Kidney Day. The Kidney Foundation here is gearing up for its two week of activities to raise awareness on the importance of maintaining healthy kidneys.
Thousands of Guyanese suffer from renal failure and the numbers continue to rise; however there is hope for patients since dialysis has become easily available.
Awareness has been cited as the key to reduce kidney related deaths, according to Dr. Areefa Alladin, who is on the management committee of the Foundation.
She said the organization intends to become the driving force behind a series of awareness events that will take place this week.
“Kidney disease is an associated health problem worldwide. World Kidney Day provides the perfect opportunity to get out in the community and get involved,” she said.
The Kidney Foundation of Guyana was established some three years ago due to the increasing need for kidney services such as dialysis.
“The general population is not aware of the functions of their kidneys and that your kidney can continue to function until about 80% of it is damaged and that is when you start to show signs and symptoms and by then it is usually too late to reverse those changes,” Dr Alladin said.
Patients with diabetes, hypertension and other chronic diseases need to be screened, at least annually, and to monitor their diseases, control their blood sugar level and pressure; to prevent kidney failure. Dr. Alladin noted.
According to Dr. Alladin, the hinterland and outland regions of Guyana will not be neglected. She said the Foundation will be sending posters to areas in Essequibo and Berbice, as well as sending out Whatsapp broadcast messages to health care professionals all across Guyana to get everybody involved.
“The main thing is to drink a glass of water and pass one on…It just starts with a glass of water. If you drink ten glasses of water a day, it is going to help you a lot. Start by doing a simple thing like drinking a glass of water on World Kidney Day and give somebody else one,” Dr Alladin said.
The Kidney Foundation of Guyana can be contacted from their new found office at the GuyEnterprise building at Lance Gibbs and Irving streets, Queenstown for any related information.
