March for prevention of kidney failure

New Delhi, Mar 9 (UNI) In a fervent attempt to create awareness about dangers from chronic kidney disease, doctors from the capital were joined in by prominent people from other walks of life in a march from India Gate to the National Stadium and back.

It was a show of solidarity by a crowd of about 1,000 people comprising politicians, medical students, nurses, transplant patients and the pharmaceutical industry against the dreaded disease, which is now the third most common non-communicable disease. An important face in the rally was Mr Karnail Singh, Joint Commissioner of Police (Special Branch).

''Kidney failure takes an awful toll not just on the patient concerned but also on his family and caregivers,'' Dr N P Singh, Joint Secretary, Delhi Nephrology Society and convenor of the event, said.

The theme of the march was 'Early detection and prevention of chronic kidney disease.' The world over the day is being marked as the ''world kindey day''.

''Our aim is to create awareness about prevention and screening programmes of the people in high risk groups for kidney disease, with the aim to broadcast the importance of this message to government health officials, general physicans, allied health professionals and families,'' Ms Richa Diwan, Head of the Department of Lok Nayak Hospital, who led the event said.

A decision was taken at India Gate to launch a 'Crusade Against Unrinary Tract Infections,' which will be popularly known as 'CUTI'.

Among other things, this will entail informing every patient who visits the OPD of the Lok Nayak Hospital about ways to prevent the disease.

Prominent among the doctors who participated in the function included Dr S C Dash, Head of Nephrology at AIIMS and President of Indian Society of Nephrology.

The patients who were also a part of the procession included those who had a transplant 20 years ago.

''Unfortunately the Indian population, especially those residing in urban areas, is genetically predisposed to develop not just Diabetes and Hypertension but also Dyslipidema and Obesity, all of which are risk factors for heart disease. Unless urgent steps are taken to educate the general public about the need for a healthy life style -- no smoking, balanced diet, regular exercise, weight control and regular health check ups -- the future looks very bleak,'' Dr N P Singh said.

He said people should go for a check up as early as possible given the fact that the cost for undergoing such tests is about Rs 25 or so.

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