Kidney Foundation of Guyana gears up for World Kidney Day 2022

Kidney disease is a major complication of diabetes and hypertension worldwide. The number of persons developing kidney failure continues to increase with each year. Data from the developed countries shows that kidney failure is among the most expensive medical complication to treat, since there are significant costs associated with dialysis and kidney transplant. In addition, for persons with kidney failure, there is reduced quality of life due to side effects from medications, dialysis, poor nutrition, and mental health issues, among others. Families and caregivers of persons with kidney failure also have added burden and stress for various reasons, such as financial constraints, and providing care on a full-time basis.

The last two years had added challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The healthcare system continues to be stretched and healthcare workers are burnt out physically and mentally. Persons with kidney disease and kidney failure felt the strain on the healthcare system as resources were redistributed to deal with excess patient load.
The Kidney Foundation of Guyana (KFG) continued to achieve its mission of educating Guyana about kidney disease through a virtual platform, during the pandemic. They were able to deliver 12 medical education sessions for 2021 in collaboration with Nephrologists in Canada. These sessions were all free of cost to Guyanese and were well attended by the medical fraternity.
KFG’s World Kidney Day month of activities was successful with significant media presence using radio, television, and print media. They saw significant activities on their Facebook page and were able to engage with patients via social media.
The membership of the Kidney Foundation continues to grow; with patients, and relatives of dialysis patients, on the executive committee. KFG recognises that patient-oriented care is the best care to deliver, and this can only be done if patients’ views are heard and if they are involved in the decision-making process.
World Kidney Day 2022 will be observed on March 10 under the theme “Kidney Health for All.” The Kidney Foundation is gearing up for a month of activities that will be posted on their social media pages. They will utilise all forms of media during the month of March to sensitise the population on kidney health.

This year, the Kidney Foundation will focus on nutrition. Guyanese grow all foods that are necessary for a healthy diet. Sensitising the population on food choices, food preparation, and meal planning may be the simplest and cheapest way to reduce the burden of chronic diseases in our population. KFG is collaborating with various governmental and non-governmental agencies to achieve this goal.
KFG is pleased to see that the cost of dialysis was subsidised in the budget. It is the hope of the foundation that dialysis will become accessible to everyone with kidney failure.
The passing of the Transplant Bill was another step in the right direction for our healthcare system. This Bill will eventually make kidney transplants more available to those who need them. A kidney transplant is superior to dialysis for those who qualify for a transplant, though not everyone with kidney failure may be a candidate for a kidney transplant.
The Kidney Foundation of Guyana will continue to work to promote a healthy Guyanese population, which can reduce the burden of chronic kidney disease and kidney failure. KFG will continue to advocate for those living with chronic kidney disease and kidney failure.