Health leaders and representatives from patient organization convened last week to help spread awareness about kidney health.
It Starts With U: Get CheCKD was a whole day event organized by Boehringer Ingelheim and partner health institutions and medical practitioners to help spread awareness about Chronic Kidney Disease, which happens to be one of the leading causes of death in the Philippines.
According to NKTI or the National Kidney Transplant Institute, there is that one Filipino that develops chronic renal failure every hour. That is estimated to be at least 2.3M Filipinos diagnosed with CKD. Survey also shows that few symptoms appear during its early stages, and people only realize that they have CKD when the condition has advanced.
The event was held at the Glorietta Activity Center in Makati last June 29, 2024 and guests includes: Rey Abacan Jr., President and Founder of DialysisPH; Marimel Lamsin, Internal VP at the Kidney Transplant Association of the Philippines, Inc. (KITAP); Karen Alparce-Villanueva, President of the Philippine Alliance of Patient Organizations (PAPO); and Dr. Rose Marie Rosete-Liquete, Exec. Director at NKTI.
Experts shared the prevalence and dangers of CKD, and how Filipinos can adopt simple yet effective measures to protect themselves. "CKD is one of the most common chronic illnesses in the Philippines and part of its danger is the difficulty in early detection since its symptoms don't manifests until it's too late. However, this condition can be easily mitigated by regular testing and adapting a few lifestyle changes," said Dr. Maaliddin Biruar, a renowned nephrologist in the country and key expert at the event.
Early detection and regular medical consultations will help prevent the progression of CKD in our patients, ensuring better quality of life and productivity. By addressing the risk factors of CKD, such as hypertension and diabetes mellitus, we can also reduce the socioeconomic burden of treating end-stage CKD," added Dr. Liquete.
Boehringer Ingelheim rolls out It Starts With U: Get CheCKD, a kidney health awareness effort that aims to encourage Filipinos to get screened for Chronic Kidney Disease of CKD.
The event also launched Boehringer's - It Starts with You - webpage that contains information on CKD that patients and the public can easily access.
"Accessible tools and education are essential in combating CKD. With tools like this website, we can empower Filipinos with the knowledge and understanding for detecting CKD early and managing it effectively. Early detection through accessible testing can significantly improve outcomes and enhance the quality of life for those affected by this silent but serious condition," said Dr. Greta Cortez, Head of Medicine for Human Pharma, Boehringer Ingelheim Philippines. "We are happy to see that more Filipinos are taking proactive steps towards taking care of their kidneys. We are committed to improving the lives of Filipinos with interconnected cardiovascular, renal, and metabolic disease which CKD is a part of. The best way to make lasting change is by educating our communities, healthcare providers, and their families."
More photos here: It Starts With U: Get CheCKD
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