No kidding around in creating kidney disease awareness

West Rand Dialysis held an awareness campaign at Tambotie Mall on March 13 in celebration of World Kidney Day.

They aimed to bring attention to the dangers of kidney disease.

“World Kidney Day means the world is acknowledging that kidney disease has an impact that warrants action.

Not enough people are aware of the disease, hence the need for awareness to reach as many people as possible,” the founder of West Rand Dialysis Inc as well as a clinical technologist (nephrology), Tebogo Malele, explained.

With this campaign, they hoped to create awareness for kidney health and lifestyle-related diseases such as hypertension and diabetes, which are also the main causes of kidney disease. During the campaign, they focused on screening for risk factors associated with kidney disease.

The tests done on patients included screening for height, weight, body mass index calculations, blood pressure and glucose. They also educated patients on what their blood pressure should be, the ideal weight and height and how uncontrolled blood pressure and glucose levels affect kidneys, which can lead to kidney disease and kidney failure.

“We advised many patients who had abnormalities to seek medical attention; some people needed urgent medical attention and such messages were communicated and the urgency communicated.”

West Rand Dialysis organised the event in partnership with PathCare, who were also on-site to do glucose testing. PathCare and Lancet both contributed to items in the goody bags that were handed out. Tambotie Mall gave them the space to reach the community. She also thanked the West Rand staff for making the day a success by ensuring everything was well-organised and the community was helped promptly.

The day was a success. The community came out in numbers to be tested. This was an indication that our community wanted to take care of their health.

“Not only did the Randfontein community come to the testing, but we also saw people from Mohlakeng, Toekomsrus, Kagiso, Krugersdorp and all the areas around Randfontein come together for their health,” Tebogo added.

“We would like to thank the community for coming out in numbers to check their health. We noticed many community members with high blood pressure and sugar levels. We urge the public to get their blood pressure and sugar tested regularly. Some community members’ blood pressures were so high that we advised them to get urgent help as it could be fatal. Blood pressure is a silent killer and many people don’t have symptoms and are thus unaware they are sick.”

She mentioned that they noticed a need to make the screening bigger in the future.

“We at West Rand Dialysis are open to assist where the community needs assistance and we have given out our number in the form of business cards and we ask the community to make use of the contacts given,” noted Tebogo.

Our address is 31 Van Riebeeck Road, Homelake, Randfontein and our contact details are 010 597 7832.

“Early detection of any disease gives intervention a chance, but even better, prevention is better than cure, lifestyle modification to be healthy and active can solve most of the health problems,” she concluded.