Thrust on concerted efforts to combat kidney diseases

FE Report

Speakers at a roundtable discussion on Saturday stressed the need for planned and concerted efforts by public and private hospitals, voluntary healthcare givers and other stakeholders to combat kidney diseases.

They also urged the authorities concerned to frame a national guideline for raising awareness and running prevention programme to ensure treatment facilities for the kidney patients irrespective of poor and rich segment of the society.

Kidney Awareness Monitoring and Prevention Society (KAMPS), a non-profit kidney care-giving organization, arranged the roundtable discussion at the National Press Club in city in observance of the 'World Kidney Day-2019'.

Prof Dr Harun Or Rashid, Chairman of Kidney Foundation, Prof Dr Rafiqul Alam, President, Bangladesh Renal Association, and Major Gen Prof Dr H R Harun, Principal, Holy Family Red Crescent Medical College & Hospital, attended the discussion meeting as panel discussants.

Founder and President of KAMPS, also Chief Consultant and Head of Department of Nephrology, BRB Hospitals Limited, Prof. Dr. M A Samad moderated the discussion and also presented keynote paper on kidney diseases, its treatment and preventive measures.

Chairman of Kidney Foundation, Prof Dr Harun Or Rashid said in the developed countries, at least 20 to 25 per cent of kidney transplantations are done from among close relatives but in our country for transplantation total 100 per cent was dependent on close relatives. "Recently law has been framed in this regard, so motivation in this regard is important."

Suggesting framing law so that kidneys from accidental death and untimely dead people can be taken to transplant to failure patients, Prof Harun said now only 200 to 250 transplants take place every year but it is possible to raise the number up to 1500 to 2000 through taking kidneys from dead people.

President of Bangladesh Renal Association, Prof. Rafiqul Alam said KAMPS has been a reputed organization at home and abroad by running non-stop awareness and prevention programme on kidney disease across the country.