Kidney Foundation of Guyana to increase awareness about Chronic Kidney Disease 

The Kidney Foundation of Guyana (KFG) plans to take its public awareness and sensitization drive on Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) countrywide with the aim of improving the quality of life and reducing the mortality rates among those living with kidney disease in Guyana.

Celebrated on March 11, World Kidney Day (WKD) 2021, focused on “Kidney Health for Everyone, everywhere – Living Well with Kidney Disease”.  According to a release, the local Kidney Foundation has collaborated with the Chronic Disease Unit of the Ministry of Health, the Nephrology Department of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) and the University of Calgary in Canada to create awareness in the past.

The activities planned included a series of CME’s which have been continuous and cover a wide range of topics on renal health and media guest appearances by doctors, patients and caregivers in the print and broadcast media.  Among one of the highlights in observing World Kidney Day in Guyana every year, is an annual walk, which was not possible due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. However, the Foundation stated that it has been finding effective ways in reaching the Guyanese populace with the use of the local media and its social media platforms.

Media houses, both print and broadcast, have been very supportive in sensitizing the population during the month of March. Meanwhile, educational sessions for medical professionals and patients were done virtually via Zoom platform and social media, mainly through the Foundation’s Facebook page.  “The KFG has received tremendous response to its outreaches and applauds the support of the local media, the public, patients and their caregivers, and members of the local medical fraternity in its public awareness drive. For the remainder of 2021 and beyond, the Kidney Foundation of Guyana will take its public awareness and sensitization drive on CKD countrywide,” the Foundation pledged.

The focus will be on addressing issues that patients and caregivers are faced with, and educating the public on risk reduction strategies to reduce the burden of CKD. The Foundation hopes to engage other organisations and stakeholders with the aim of improving the quality of life and reducing the mortality rates among those living with kidney disease in Guyana.

Statistics show that about 10 percent of the world’s population is affected by Chronic Kidney Disease with over 2 million people globally receiving either dialysis treatment or having benefited from a kidney transplant.