DOH-NKTI conduct kidney tests in Paranaque

In line with its Renal Disease Control Program (REDCOP) and in observance of the Kidney Month, the DOH-National Kidney & Transplant Institute (NKTI), in cooperation with the City Government of Parañaque, headed by Mayor Florencio Bernabe, Jr. conducted a medical /laboratory outreach and lecture forum in the city. 
    

Dubbed as “Bato Kong Alay, Bago Mong Buhay”, the activity aimed at raising the awareness of citizens on the causes, symptoms, prevention and management of kidney disease.
    

Kidney diseases rank as the No. 10 killer in the Philippines, causing death to about 7,000 Filipinos every year.
    

The various kinds of kidney disease are diabetic kidney disease, chronic glomerulonephritis (CGN), hypertensive kidney disease and chronic and repeated kidney infections (pyelonephritis).
    

Kidney disease may not manifest itself hence the patient would not usually seek medical attention. The person would look or feel normal but when the urine is examined, it will reveal adverse findings. Due to lack of symptoms during its early stages, they often lead to End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD).
    

According to NKTI Adult Nephrology Chief Fellow Dr. Maricris Basinillo, the current leading cause of ESRD in the country is complication from diabetes mellitus, followed by CGN and hypertension. 

She added that these diseases can be prevented by adopting a healthy lifestyle and having a regular urinalysis and medical check-up by a physician. 

If diagnosed early in the course of illness, the need for expensive ESRD treatment including dialysis and organ transplant can be avoided.    
    

Apart from the lecture forum on kidney disease, free urinalysis and medical consultations were conducted for the benefit of the residents of the City.
    

The activity was in coordination with the Parañaque City Health Office headed by Dr. Olga Virtusio.

Providing support for the DOH-NKTI team were Parañaque Medical Officer Dr. Geraldine Yangson, Chief Medical Technologist Joycelynn Aman, health center physicians, Health Educ. Promotion Officers and medical technologists of the city.