World Kidney Day is observed every year on the second ursday of March in more than 100 countries.
The Institute of Kidney Disease (IKD) observed the event on Thursday under the theme of protecting the heart by saving your kidneys. Experts said kidney-related diseases can be prevented through a proper diet and regular exercise.
Addressing the participants, Khyber Medical University Vice Chancellor Dr Muhammad Hafizullah said the main reason for kidney diseases is high blood pressure and diabetes, in addition to unhygienic food.
Those who drink two and a half litres of water daily, walk regularly and refrain from smoking can protect their kidneys, he added.
Quoting the World Health Organization, Professor Dr Sultan Zafar said 180 to 220 million people in the world are affected by blood pressure-related diseases, while 366 million are affected by diabetes. About 18 million people in Pakistan are affected by blood pressure, he added.
IKD was established in 2007 and has played a pivotal role in treating kidney diseases, said Zafar. “IKD ranks second in the country after the Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation, as we have done 50,000 dialysis in the last five years with only 15 machines. IKD has also treated 6,000 poor patients free of charge.”
IKD Director Professor Dr Asif Malak said 200 to 250 patients are treated every day in the outpatient department and the provincial government is also providing free dialysis in major hospitals across the province.
Kidney diseases are mostly prevalent in Dir, Malakand, Swat and Chitral areas because most patients come from there, Malik added. “We also treat patients from Afghanistan as well.”
Published in The Express Tribune, March 15th, 2013.
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ