Karachi takes kidney screening to UC level

Karachi is set to take kidney disease screening to the grassroots level, with Mayor Barrister Murtaza Wahab directing the Karachi Institute of Kidney Diseases (KIKD) to launch a citywide screening programme through union councils to detect kidney disorders early and identify residents in need of further medical care.

The initiative is aimed at determining the actual prevalence of kidney disease in Karachi and providing early screening to people who may not have easy access to specialised healthcare facilities.

Wahab directed the KIKD administration to organise large-scale screening camps in coordination with union council chairmen, enabling residents to undergo initial kidney screening closer to their homes.

He said the programme was part of the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation's broader effort to expand preventive healthcare services and improve access to medical facilities at the grassroots level. "We need to know the actual number of people suffering from kidney diseases in Karachi," Wahab said, adding that union council-level screening would help identify potential cases at an early stage and enable timely medical advice and treatment.

The mayor also announced that the KMC would launch a public awareness campaign on kidney diseases, focusing on the importance of early screening, timely diagnosis and appropriate treatment.