Regular check-up's may prevent kidney diseases
To avoid expensive End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) treatments such as dialysis and transplantation, the most important step in preventing kidney disease is early recognition and prevention of the causes.
This was expressed by National Renal Disease Control Program (REDCOP) Manager, Dr. Remedios de Belen-Uriarte of the National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI) during her recent consultations with some officials in the city and province of Iloilo.
To do this, Dr. Uriarte said, we should have a regular check - up with the doctor and at least a yearly urine examination.
Dr. Uriarte identified the leading causes now of ESRD as complications of diabetes mellitus and hypertension.
Dr. Uriarte led the REDCOP National Monitoring Team who visited the region recently to monitor and evaluate the implementation of the Training/Advocacy on the prevention of kidney disease conducted in 2004 which was participated in by the provincial/city doctors, nurses and medical-technologists in Western Visayas.
The Monitoring Team is composed of members from the Philippine Society of Nephrology (PSN), Department of Health (DOH), Philippine Information Agency (PIA) and the National kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI).
In separate occasion, the group made a coordination call with Mayor Jerry Trenñas and Provincial Administrator Manuel Mejorada on the implementation of the program in the city and province of Iloilo, respectively, as well as discussed other issues and concerns related to the program.
The group also met Department of Health -Center for Health Development 6 (DOH-CHD 6) Director Dr. Lydia Depra Ramos and Philippine Information Agency Assistant Director General for Visayas Atty. Janet Mesa to further strengthen the support and participation of their respective agencies in the program.
The cooperating agencies received a comprehensive training manual for doctors, health workers and laypersons. The training module aims to equip advocates with knowledge on the causes, effects and outcomes of urinary/renal diseases and skills in training and advocacy for the prevention of these diseases. The production of the manual is considered one of REDCOP's more impressive accomplishment.
Dr. Uriarte emphasized the importance of sustaining and of bringing the program down to the barangay level as she cited that almost 7,000 Filipinos die of renal diseases every year.
CHD 6 Degenerative Disease Cluster Head Dr. Marlyn Convocar said kidney disease is now included among the ten leading causes of mortality in the region.
(PIA)