Today World Kidney Day (WKD) is raising awareness about the amazing life-changing potential of kidney transplantation. Medical and patient communities, politicians, corporations, charitable organizations and the general public are telling the world about the benefits of kidney transplantation.
WKD explores the real potential of transforming kidney transplantation into a routine form of treatment for early stage renal disease patients worldwide.
“Early detection and prevention programs will never prevent early stage renal disease in every patient with CKD. Kidney transplantation is an essential, viable, cost-effective and life-saving therapy, which should be equally available to all people who need it. We urge all WKD 2012 participants to help spread this message to governments, all health authorities and the public worldwide, explains ISN President John Feehally.
Why choose kidney transplantation?
Kidney transplantation is one of the biggest advances in modern medicine, helping patients with irreversible kidney failure lead a better life for longer.
Once seen as experimental, risky and very limited, it is now routine clinical practice in more than 80 countries. The largest number of transplants are performed in the United States, China, Brazil and India, while the greatest population access to transplantation is in Austria, United States, Croatia, Norway, Portugal and Spain.
Is it accessible to all?
In some developing countries, transplantation takes lower priority than clean water, sanitation and vaccination. There also continues to be financial limitations to this form of treatment.
Most kidney patients and their families in the resource-poor environment cannot afford the high cost immunosuppressant drugs and antiviral medication needed to reduce the risk of graft loss or mortality. In high-income countries, the technical challenges of surgery and the consequences of immunosuppressive drugs restrict the number of suitable recipients. However, the major problem is the shortage of donated organs and trained medical, surgical and nursing workforces with the required expertise.
World Kidney Day is a call to mobilize and deliver transplantation therapy to the one million people a year who have a right to benefit. What are you doing this year? Let us know or seek inspiration from others involved in this year’s campaign. Visit: www.worldkidneyday.org