Namibia marks World Kidney Day
The world commemorated World Kidney Day on Thursday last week to raise awareness of the importance of kidneys and reduce the frequency and impact of kidney disease and its associated health problems worldwide.
Kim Crymble, the Ongwediva Medipark Kidney Transplant Unit manager, said the day provides an opportunity for healthcare professionals and nephrologists to inform people about how to protect against health problems associated with chronic kidney disease (CKD).
"Health is wealth. Let's all be the leaders in our own health care. Know your numbers, seek medical help and if medication is prescribed, please be compliant and take your doses. If you feel the medication doesn’t agree with you, report back to the doctor.”
She said defaulting on medications can have devastating consequences.
Crymble said that, unfortunately, research has shown the African community is four times more at risk than the European community of developing high blood pressure, which can lead to kidney disease, but it can also be a sign that the kidneys are already impaired. Often, the primary cause of kidney disease remains unknown.
“It is never too early or too late to start checking our blood pressure and sugar levels. Primary health clinics, pharmacies, or even home monitoring is an effective and inexpensive way of finding out your numbers,” Crymble said.
Ongwediva Medipark has, to date, performed 10 transplants and will soon resume the live kidney transplant programme.
Important functions
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), Namibia is ranked 73rd globally for deaths resulting from kidney disease.
Crymble said kidneys perform many important functions, including helping to control blood pressure, maintaining bone and heart health, and aiding in the production of red blood cells, which are essential for carrying oxygen around the body.
She said CKD is a condition in which the kidneys cannot perform their normal functions.
“Your kidneys lose most of their function, and, as a result, fluid and waste build up in your body. Kidney disease usually develops slowly, with very few signs or symptoms in the early stages. Many people do not realise they have a problem until their kidney function has decreased to less than 25 percent of normal. This damage usually occurs slowly and often it is not reversible,” Crymble said.
Fast or slow
She said kidney function can decline gradually over several years or rapidly over several months. Eventually, Crymble said the function will drop so low that dialysis treatment or a kidney transplant will be required. This, she said, is known as end-stage kidney disease (ESKD).
“Kidney disease can be silent and progressive, and once the damage has been done, it is typically irreversible. Unfortunately, many people do not experience symptoms of chronic kidney disease until it has already progressed into moderate or severe stages."
Kim Crymble, the Ongwediva Medipark Kidney Transplant Unit manager, said the day provides an opportunity for healthcare professionals and nephrologists to inform people about how to protect against health problems associated with chronic kidney disease (CKD).
"Health is wealth. Let's all be the leaders in our own health care. Know your numbers, seek medical help and if medication is prescribed, please be compliant and take your doses. If you feel the medication doesn’t agree with you, report back to the doctor.”
She said defaulting on medications can have devastating consequences.
Crymble said that, unfortunately, research has shown the African community is four times more at risk than the European community of developing high blood pressure, which can lead to kidney disease, but it can also be a sign that the kidneys are already impaired. Often, the primary cause of kidney disease remains unknown.
“It is never too early or too late to start checking our blood pressure and sugar levels. Primary health clinics, pharmacies, or even home monitoring is an effective and inexpensive way of finding out your numbers,” Crymble said.
Ongwediva Medipark has, to date, performed 10 transplants and will soon resume the live kidney transplant programme.
Important functions
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), Namibia is ranked 73rd globally for deaths resulting from kidney disease.
Crymble said kidneys perform many important functions, including helping to control blood pressure, maintaining bone and heart health, and aiding in the production of red blood cells, which are essential for carrying oxygen around the body.
She said CKD is a condition in which the kidneys cannot perform their normal functions.
“Your kidneys lose most of their function, and, as a result, fluid and waste build up in your body. Kidney disease usually develops slowly, with very few signs or symptoms in the early stages. Many people do not realise they have a problem until their kidney function has decreased to less than 25 percent of normal. This damage usually occurs slowly and often it is not reversible,” Crymble said.
Fast or slow
She said kidney function can decline gradually over several years or rapidly over several months. Eventually, Crymble said the function will drop so low that dialysis treatment or a kidney transplant will be required. This, she said, is known as end-stage kidney disease (ESKD).
“Kidney disease can be silent and progressive, and once the damage has been done, it is typically irreversible. Unfortunately, many people do not experience symptoms of chronic kidney disease until it has already progressed into moderate or severe stages."
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