World Kidney Day 2012

Karachi: Kidney Failure Is Not Death Warrant- It is Treatable.

“Conservatively speaking, nearly 100 per million people in Pakistan die of Kidney failure, yet these are those cases that get registered and diagnosed in the urban areas only.” Doctor Adeeb Rizvi, Director SIUT spoke at The World Kidney Day today.

The world kidney day which happens to be a joint initiative of International Society of Nephrology (ISN) and the International Federation of Kidney Foundations (IFKF), was celebrated this year on the March,8.

The underlying intent behind organising the day is to impart awareness amongst people about the primary causes that lead to kidney infection and in extreme cases, to kidney failures.

It is also to enlighten masses how to safeguard oneself from this appalling ailment. Healthy living which includes plenty of water, average weight, keeping check on diabetes, and avoidance of painkillers that prove to be the worst enemy of the kidneys, can protect one from falling prey to this life-threatening disease.

This year, the theme of the day was, “Donate Kidneys for life Receive”. While according to Dr. Adib Rizvi, every year 50,000 people suffer from organ failure, and out of these 15000 become victim to renal failure as well.

Among several curative measures, dialysis is an option that is mostly resorted to, is also rather unaffordable and quite expensive for people who find it difficult to eke the victuals of life. And so, the gift of life is unjustly reserved for only those who have the money, while the others who are short of it may have to succumb to death.

However, to guarantee life, irrespective of whether one can pay for it or not, the aim of the Kidney Day this year was to ask people to pledge their kidneys, that can be transplanted post their brain death. And so in a way, a dying person may vouch for another person's life.

With an avalanche of people heading to SIUT with a hope for a new life, concern and support of their countrymen can surely bequeath life to those who may not survive otherwise.