KARACHI: Observing World Kidney Day, Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation (SIUT) organized a day long public awareness program event at its main premises in Karachi city besides two other venues i.e., SIUT Primary Healthcare Center Camp Darsana Chhana Imdad Jokhio in Kathore and Chhablani Medical Centre Sukkur.
World Kidney Day is an international annual event celebrated all over the globe for creating mass awareness about the diagnosis, treatment options and most importantly prevention of kidney diseases. This year’s theme is Kidneys & Women’s Health (Include, Value, Empower).
According to figures and statistics provided by International Society for Nephrology (ISN) and The International Federation of Kidney Foundation’s (IFKF), chronic diseases of the kidney are the 8thcommonest cause of death in women all over the world, causing more than 600,000 deaths per year and approximately 195 million women are affected by it worldwide: chronic kidney disease (CKD) is more likely to develop in women compared to men with an average 14% prevalence in women & 12% in men.
The prevalence of CKD is rising and may affect approximately 30 Lakh of women in their childbearing age with an increased risk of negative health outcomes for the pregnant mother and the baby.
The day long activities chalked out by SIUT included free clinical testing like blood, urine tests and measurement of height, weight, body mass index (BMI) and blood pressure etc. There were free checkup / consultations by medical specialists, nutritionist consultations and dietary advice and eye screening and consultation.
Throughout the day there were ongoing lectures and tutorials relating to kidney diseases. Distribution of educational material to create awareness among the masses about various kidney ailments was also carried out. Those who spoke on the occasion were Nephrologists Dr Rubina Naqvi & Dr Rafia Shah, Diabetologist Dr Fouzia Mushtaq, Dietician Ms Kehkashan Zehra and others.
A large number of people participated in the event and availed the facilities.