incorporating National Drink Water Week and World Kidney Day

Kidney Health Week, incorporating National Drink Water Week and World Kidney Day 2011

Commencing on Monday 7th through until Sunday 13th March 2011 this annual event provides an opportunity for us to raise awareness about kidney disease and its impact on New Zealanders. The theme for this year is Protect your kidneys, save your heart.

This week, which includes World Kidney Day, enables us to provide a visible opportunity to inform and educate health policy-makers, people who are at highest risk of CKD, and the general public that kidney disease is common, harmful and treatable.

This World Kidney Day focuses on the important link between Chronic Kidney Disease and Cardiovascular Disease and the fact that Chronic Kidney Disease is a major risk for Cardiovascular Disease.

There will also be a strong emphasis on Diabetes, which is the leading cause of chronic kidney disease.

Hypertension, obesity and smoking are also major causes of kidney damage. As we all know that lifestyle changes over the past decades have lead to an increase in diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.

Too many people still ignore that the conditions that have generated this potential epidemic of kidney disease.

Some of the activities already planned for the week include;

Rachael Walker, Renal Nurse Practitioner, and I will be interviewed on the national Maori radio station in Hawkes Bay on Sunday 6th March.

On Monday 7th March we will be in Napier at the Ahuriri Community Health Centre, MacDonald Street offering free kidney health checks. These will include blood pressure measurements, urine tests and risk assessment for diabetes. Staff from the Hawkes Bay Renal Unit will be offering their services. This event will be advertised in medical practices, the renal unit and clinics, as well as in the local papers. The local support group will be there too to promote the mobile dialysis unit

On Tuesday 8th March we will be in Northland; again we will be offering free kidney health checks to council staff and members of the general public at The Forum North, Whangarei with the help and support of staff from the Whangarei Renal Unit. We will be providing information and education around the prevention of kidney disease and identifying those at risk. This day is also graduation day so we are hoping for a big crowd.

On Wednesday 9th we will be at the new renal service at Waitemata DHB on the North Shore in Auckland, where we will be offering free kidney health checks and raising awareness about kidney disease and its impact

On Thursday 10th, World Kidney Day, we will once again be at the Beehive in Wellington performing our annual kidney health checks on the MPs and Parliamentary staff with the support of the Wellington Hospital renal team. Dr Alastair Macdonald will be interviewed by the local Kapiti Radio station. There will also be a display in Wellington Hospital main atrium, manned by the renal staff.

World Kidney Day is also a good opportunity to remind governments that the chronic kidney disease weighs heavily on all countries’ healthcare budgets and that it is crucial to take action to facilitate early detection and encourage healthy lifestyles.

Some other activities happening around the country include;

In Ashburton the local support group use a vacant shop in the arcade to offer free blood pressure checks to the general public. They also target a local business each year visiting them in their workplace. This year it is the Ashburton Trading Society (ATS). They have arranged for interviews and advertising throughout the week in both radio stations and all three newspapers.

The Waikato renal unit staff are participating as a relay team in the annual Lake Taupo run on the 19th February. They will be wearing their very own “Stake in Kidneys” shirts.

The Occupational Health Nurse, at the two Griffins manufacturing facilities in Auckland will be promoting kidney health at the biscuit factory in Papakura and the savoury/wrapped snacks factory in Wiri. This workplace has a majority of Pacific people and Maori working there, so a great place to raise awareness. The nurse will be wearing our tee shirt and giving away prizes throughout the week.

At Waitakere Hospital there will be a static display promoting kidney health

Progressive foods are going to run a banner promoting kidney health week in their weekly specials flyer; these are delivered nationwide, so will be a great way to raise awareness nationally.

30 Dental clinics in the Hawkes Bay are promoting our Water as the drink of choice message by putting up our posters and our water stickers to children.

Auckland University are also using our drink water message for their early childcare and preschool students as they begin their orientation, by giving out our stickers and brochures.

Several medical centres have requested resources for the week to put up in their waiting rooms.

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