Kidney Walk to prevent kidney disease

14 March 2024 12:00 am Views - 624

The picture shows Prof. Eranga Wijewickrama (Centre) addressing the gathering. Also in the picture is Dr. Dilukshi Pilapitiya (right) 
(Pictures by Pradeep Dilrukshana)

“March 14 is World Kidney Day. There are more than 850 billion people. It will result in over 3.1 million deaths globally in 2019,” said Prof. Eranga Wijewickrama. These comments were made by Prof. Wijewickrama at a press briefing conducted by the Sri Lanka Society of Nephrology and held at the Sri Lanka College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists on March 12 to educate the public about World Kidney Day and also on an upcoming ‘walk’ scheduled on March 17 which will commence at 6.30am at the open-air theatre at Viharamahadevi Park, opposite Nelum Pokuna and end at the Town hall (Colombo Municipal Council Grounds). 
Diabetes, hypertension and obesity are the main reasons for kidney disease. If a person has these diseases, that individual is capable of developing kidney disease. D Treatments like dialysis and Peritoneal dialysis caused by kidney failure are expensive in Sri Lanka. If this process also fails the patient will have to face transplanting a new kidney. “We should try to minimise the number of kidney patients,” said Wijewickrama.

 A walk has been organised on March 17 by the Sri Lanka Society of Nephrology. “The theme for this local event is ‘Let’s unite to protect our kidneys’. The walk will commence at 6.30am at the open-air theater at Viharamahadevi Park, opposite the Nelum Pokuna at the end of the Town hall (Colombo Municipal Council Grounds). Following the walk, there is a public awareness expert panel discussion and a screening programme, from 8.00am at the Town Hall.  
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