World Kidney Day 2012

The Division of Renal Medicine will be hosting a FREE KIDNEY HEALTH SCREENING:

Thursday, March 8, 2012
10am to 4pm
75 Francis Street Mezzanine (across from the BWH gift shop, 2nd floor)

All are welcome! Physician consultations will be available after the screening.

• Do you have kidney disease?
• Have you ever found blood and/or protein in your urine?
• Do you have high blood pressure?
• Do you have high cholesterol?
• Do you have heart problem?
• Do you have diabetes?
• Do you have family history of any of the above?
• Are you over 50 years?
• Are you a smoker?

If you have answered YES to any one of these criteria, you are at risk of developing kidney disease.

Take a look at pictures from World Kidney Day 2012

World Kidney Day is a joint initiative of the International Society of Nephrology (ISN) and the International Federation of Kidney Foundations (IFKF).

Mission Statement:

The mission of World Kidney Day is to raise awareness of the importance of our kidneys to our overall health and to reduce the frequency and impact of kidney disease and its associated health problems worldwide.

Objectives:

• Raise awareness about our "amazing kidneys"
• Highlight that diabetes and high blood pressure are key risk factors for Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)
• Encourage systematic screening of all patients with diabetes and hypertension for CKD
• Encourage preventive behaviors
• Educate all medical professionals about their key role in detecting and reducing the risk of CKD, particularly in high risk populations.
• Stress the important role of local and national health authorities in controlling the CKD epidemic. Health authorities worldwide will have to deal with high and escalating costs if no action is taken to treat the growing number of people with CKD. On World Kidney Day all governments are encouraged to take action and invest in further kidney screening

If detected early, Chronic Kidney Diseases can be treated--thereby reducing other complications and dramatically reduce the growing burden of deaths and disability from chronic renal and cardiovascular disease worldwide.