NIH Radio
World Kidney Day and National Kidney Month
Brief Description:
Kidney month and kidney day are opportunities to increase awareness about a major public health problem.
Transcript:
Akinso: The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases is pleased to recognize World Kidney Day during National Kidney Month.
Narva: National Kidney Month is March and World Kidney is March 11th.
Akinso: Dr. Andrew Narva is the Director of NIDDK's National Kidney Disease Education Program.
Narva: It's really utilized as a way of focusing attention on chronic kidney disease, which is often diagnosed late, and the importance of focusing on it so that people can understand that it's a serious problem, but that it can be treated, especially if identified early.
Akinso: Chronic kidney disease affects approximately 23 million adults in the U.S. and is a major public health challenge. In 2007, almost 111,000 people in the U.S. began treatment for the most advanced stage of the disease, kidney failure. Dr. Narva pinpoints the leading cause of chronic kidney disease and kidney failure.
Narva: Diabetes is now the leading cause of kidney failure in the United States and it’s becoming the predominate cause worldwide.
Akinso: Dr. Narva provides information about some of the education programs which aim to reduce the burden of kidney disease and diabetes.
Narva: Education programs include the program that I direct, which is the National Kidney Disease Education Program, and we really strive to reduce morbidity and mortality to communities most at risk of chronic kidney disease by promoting early education and testing before it progresses to kidney failure. And also to provide useful tools to the health care providers who serve the most high risk communities. Another program that addresses this is the National Diabetes Education Program, which works in collaboration with CDC and a large number of federal, state, and local partners to offer materials and resources to patients with diabetes and the professionals who care for them.
Akinso: For more information on chronic kidney disease, diabetes, and education programs provided by NIDDK visit www.niddk.nih.gov. This is Wally Akinso at the National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland.
About This Audio Report
Date: 3/12/2010
Reporter: Wally Akinso
Sound Bite: Dr. Andrew Narva
Topic: Chronic Kidney Disease, Kidney Failure, Diabetes
Institute(s):
NIDDK
Additional Info: Statement from NIDDK Director Griffin P. Rodgers for World Kidney Day and National Kidney Month
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