The Guyana Kidney Foundation was yesterday launched at Herdmanston Lodge in Queenstown, Georgetown, in observance of World Kidney Day.
The mission of the foundation is to promote public awareness about prevention, treatment and consequences of kidney and urinary tract diseases; to support national health-care efforts aimed at reducing illnesses caused by hypertension, diabetes and obesity; and to encourage partnerships that mobilise financial and other resources to assist individuals who suffer from, or are susceptible to chronic disease.
Founder of the organisation Professor George Nicholson spoke on the background of the initiative, while Dr Deen Sharma highlighted the major focus of the organisation. Chairman of the Foundation Major General (retired) Joe Singh and its Secretary Hugh Cholmondeley, also spoke.
Minister of Health Dr Leslie Ramsammy, who was the guest-speaker, urged the members of the foundation to join the Ministry of Health in its many initiatives this year, including the ‘Weight No More’ programme. He encouraged them to adopt certain roles in promoting a healthy diet, weight management and regular exercise. He highlighted some of the problems the ministry faces at the moment, expressing his wish that the foundation would assist in these areas. Two of these issues he stated are Over the Counter (OTC) drugs, which the ministry has a hard time regulating and salt intake, which he noted is a problem in Guyana as well as the Caribbean.
These are two of the many risk factors that could lead to chronic kidney disease. The foundation was also encouraged by Ramsammy to join in the ministry’s anti-smoking programmes.
Giving closing remarks, Cholmondeley highlighted three plans of the foundation: to educated citizens in simple terms about kidney disease, its prevention and cure; to support policy makers; and to find simple ways of helping sufferers of the disease.
The theme for this year’s World Kidney Day is ‘Protect your kidneys and save your heart.’
