Srinagar:The World Kidney Day to raise awareness of kidney health with a focus on this year's theme “Kidney Health for everyone everywhere-living well with kidney disease was today celebrated in the S K Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS).
Organised by the Department of Nephrology, the experts unanimously stressed lifestyle modifications for maintaining healthy kidneys which include exercise, weight control, avoiding smoking, alcohol, self-medication, and fad diets which are the leading cause of kidney diseases.
Director SKIMS & Ex-officio Secretary to Government Dr A G Ahangar in his address said that SKIMS has taken tremendous strides in the field of Nephrology and the department is carrying forward the legacy set in the past by its luminaries to serve common people through excellent patient-centric services.
He said SKIMS is the only authorized Institute to run Kidney Transplant Program which is a huge success. On the academic front start of the Doctoral Program recently in Nephrology is a major milestone achieved by the department.
Apart from super specialty services provided to the patients he said SKIMS is playing a critical role in facilitating the poor patients by providing financial assistance through Centrally Sponsored financial schemes operational at SKIMS to cover their treatment other than the recently launched Sehat Scheme. He stressed more involvement of NGOs and social groups to facilitate chronic kidney disease patients in providing various services like dialysis which puts the huge financial burden on poor patients.
During the program, the experts deliberated on various issues about Kidney health. Prof Mohammad Ashraf Bhat Head of Department (HOD), Nephrology SKIMS in his presentation strictly warned about fad diets particularly by the young generation. He stressed continuous monitoring of diabetes and hypertension which are leading causes of chronic kidney disease.
Dr Tajamul Hussain Mir HOD, Nephrology Super Speciality hospital Srinagar in his in-depth presentation warned about dangerous consequences of Obesity in a relation to kidney diseases and asked people to maintain a healthy weight which otherwise has huge repercussions on their kidney health.
Dr Salim Wani, HOD Urology & Kidney Transplant Unit, SKIMS discussed in detail the kidney transplant program at SKIMS and urged for immediate establishment URO-Nephro Centre to cater to chronic kidney diseases which are growing at an alarming pace. He also emphasized for Cadaver Transplant Program as a need of the hour to cater huge gap between availability and demand. In this direction awareness among medical faculty and awareness at the community level is needed, he urged.
On the occasion Director, Doordarshan News Salman Qazi was facilitated by Director SKIMS for wide publicity and awareness of SKIMS activities through various Programs of Doordarshan.(UNI)