Get your kidneys checked on World Kidney Day
Thursday 14 March 2013
Is there a history of kidney disease in your family?
If so you may be at risk yourself
• People with a family history of kidney disease are three to nine times more likely to develop kidney failure than a person without such a family history
• This is especially true if you are Maori and Pacific
• Kidney failure has profound effects on the lives of patients and their families
• Kidney disease is silent with 80-90% of people unaware they have it
• Nearly 4,000 New Zealanders are on treatment for kidney failure
• Around 500 new patients start dialysis each year
• Treatment is expensive costing the health system around $150 million annually
• The good news is that there are things we can do to protect our kidneys if the diagnosis is made early
• Checking for kidney disease is simple
Well known actor and director, Michael Hurst, has a family member with kidney disease and already knows that he is at increased risk. Michael says, “because of my family history of kidney disease I make sure I get a regular kidney check with my GP”.
Hercules aka Michael Hurst getting his blood pressure taken by his GP, Dr Barney Montgomery, as part of his kidney check.
During Kidney Health Week (11-15 March 13), KHNZ, kidney units and patient support groups will be encouraging family members of people with kidney disease to get their doctor to check out their kidneys. KHNZ will be giving family members this card to take with them when they visit their GP.
On World Kidney Day, 14 March 13, KHNZ will team up with staff from the Northland DHB kidney unit to offer kidney checks to family members of kidney patients at Forum North, Whangarei.
For more information about getting checked contact:
• Your GP
• Kidney Health New Zealand www.kidneys.co.nz
ENDS
More information
Professor Kelvin Lynn, Medical Director of Kidney Health New Zealand
Telephone 03 353 1242
Mobile 0274 376 542
kelvin@kidneys.co.nz www.kidneys.co.nz
PLEASE SUPPORT - KM’S FOR KIDNEYS
Rachael Walker and Caron Schollum (HB Renal Unit) are seeking your support for Km’s for Kidneys which will be fundraising and raising awareness for Kidney Health New Zealand a non profit organisation reliant on public support which provides education, support and raises awareness of Kidney Disease in New Zealand.
Rachael and Caron will be wearing KHNZ “Are your kidney’s OK?” clothing when they run the Auckland Marathon on October 28 2012.
“New Zealand has one of the worst organ donation rates. We want to see that change. If we can stimulate the community to begin conversations about organ donation in a positive way we are hopeful this will eventually lead to higher organ donation rates in New Zealand. Increasing awareness of kidney disease will also encourage people check their kidney health, especially those who have high risk factors such as diabetes and high blood pressure. Early detection is really important”.
In taking part in the marathon we are acknowledging the tough journey those with chronic kidney disease often face. Friends and whanau often wish there was something they could do to help. Supporting Km’s for Kidneys campaign is one way to achieve this”.
Rachael is also completing the Iron Maori in December. This is a Half Iron Man (2km swim, 90km bike ride and 21.6km run) in support of Km’s for Kidneys.
They need your support in sponsoring them per kilometre completed or simply a one off donation. If you are willing to sponsor Rachael, Caron and Kidney Health NZ please deposit your donation into
KHNZ bank account: National Bank 06 0501 0280602 00 ref: KM’s
GST NO: 69-442-005
Click Here - Thinking of Buying a Kidney? - What you need to Know
Kidney Health New Zealand supports New Zealand kidney health professionals to attend the Home Therapies Conference 2012 in Sydney, Australia, 14-16 March 2012
The following health professionals attended the Home Therapies Conference 2012 in Sydney Australia, with support from Kidney Health New Zealand
Jude Kearns, Community Dialysis Nurse, Capital and Coast District Health Board
Natasha Darby, Renal Nurse, Hastings Hospital
Julia Bates, Renal Dietitian, Middlemore Hospital
Julie Pesirla, Peritoneal Dialysis Nurse, North Shore Hospital
Blair Donkin, Registered Nurse, Dunedin Dialysis Unit
Kidney donor Sandra Paton receiving her certificate from Auckland City Major, Len Brown at a function recognising living donors. 8 March 2012
MP Jo Goodhew having her blood pressure checked by Carmel Gregan-Ford at Parliament as part of our Kidney Health Week. 6 March 2012
Charlie Clark and his daughter Jane Thomas
Charlie donated his kidney to his daughter 30 years ago. Jane has since had three children who are now teenagers.
www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/6521782/Donor-gave-her-buddy-and-life
2010 World Kidney Day
Kidney Health NZ and staff from Wellington Hospital spent a day in Parliament recently taking parliamentarians blood pressures and urine protein tests to test kidney function.
We were kept very busy taking over 100 blood and protein tests.
Carmel Gregan-Ford, Education Manager for Kidney Health NZ taking the blood pressure of MP Amy Adams.
Miranda Walker, Renal Nurse, taking the blood pressure of MP Simon Bridges.
Hon Tau Henare having his blood pressure taken.
Hon Mita Ririnui having his blood pressure taken.
2010 Pasifika
Kidney Health New Zealand and staff from Auckland DHB Renal Unit had a stand at Pasifika 2010 in Auckland where more than 200,000 people attended. Staff were kept busy taking blood pressures and raising awareness to one of our high risk groups.
A renal nurse taking a blood pressure, one of the checks for kidney disease. Pacific and Maori people have a high incidence of diabetes and as a consequence kidney disease.
Staff with a patient from Wellington Hospital celebrating World Kidney Day.
Staff from Wellington Hospital celebrating World Kidney Day on Thursday 11 March 2010.
World Kidney Day 12 March 2009
.jpg)
During World Kidney Week Carmel and staff from Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin Hospitals visited staff at Lion Nathan and took blood pressures and did urine protein tests to test kidney health.
Stars Visit Dialysis Clinic
Stars Visit Dialysis Clinic Rugby Legend Michael Jones and decorated military hero Tana Fatu visited the renal clinic at Wellington Hospital recently. The two, each a hero in their own way, brought messages of hope to dialysis patients who are fighting their own heroic battles.
Pictured above: from left Michael Jones, Tana Fatu and real patient Jo
Michael Jones (pictured above, meeting kidney patient Reg) is widely acknowledged as one of the greatest All Blacks of all time, playing 55 tests in the black jersey and scoring 13 test tries. In 2003 he was inducted into the international Rugby Hall of Fame. His sincerity, charisma and the depth of his convictions have seen Michael Jones remain a greatly admired household name to this day.
Private Tana (Jonathon) Fatu (above, with renal patient Bob) is not a household name - but in many ways he exemplifies the archetype of an unassuming kiwi hero. In 2007 Tana Fatu received the Distinguished Service Decoration for the bravery he displayed in saving the lives of two fellow soldiers after a mishap during a live firing exercise at Waiouru. He has also served the New Zealand Army in Afghanistan. In February 2009 he will be setting off on a 400km fundraising walk from Porirua to Palmerston North and back, organised by the Kidney Patient Support Network.
"Support and fundraising by high calibre and high profile people like Michael and Tana means a great deal to everyone involved in the care of kidney patients," says Dr Grant Pidgeon, the Clinical Leader of Renal Services of C&C DHB (pictured above, left, with Michael Jones).
"A hospital can meet the main health needs of these patients. But there are other social and lifestyle needs which benefit greatly from the fundraising done by organisations such as Kidney Patient Network, " Dr Pidgeon says.
Staff from the Renal Unit competed in the 80km Long Bays Classic held Saturday 6 December 2008