Kidney Warriors Foundation wrote to the Central and State Governments on the basis of complaints received from patients that some of the dialysis centres under the Pradhan Mantri National Dialysis Programme (PMNDP) were being run by technicians without the guidance of nephrologists.
In our endeavour to address long waiting lists, and get more patients on dialysis to achieve their transplant goals, we undertook a close study of the existing transplant laws. It was necessary to check if any tweaking in laws could add more dimensions to increase organ donation.
With India facing a public health crisis as a result of rising obesity, diabetes, cancers, hypertension, cardiac diseases, renal disease and mental health issues there is huge concern of people dying due to Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs). Out of total deaths of about 9 million the current estimate shows nearly 5.8 million people die from NCDs, which is about 60% of annual deaths. The comprehensive national nutrition survey (CNNS) 2016 revealed that more than half of the 5–19 year-olds show biomarkers of NCDs.
For people with CKD, physical activity is imperative in order to overcome the manifold side effects of dialysis and medications. Although walking is considered the best form of exercise, it can be supported by other forms for better outcomes. Yoga is one such form that can be practiced by people of all age groups for greater flexibility, better muscle strength, improved bone strength, increased blood flow, improved heart rate, and control of blood pressure and blood sugar. It also helps in relaxation which, in effect, improves sleep. Responding to the need expressed by several members of KWF to include meditation and relaxation as part of a patient’s routine, Saurabh Agrawal, a certified yoga instructor, volunteered to conduct yoga sessions for the members.
Health issues of women do not get as much attention or focus as that of men. Women themselves often ignore symptoms of disease and do not heed warning signs issued by the body. The disparity in access to health care by men and women is proved by statistics which show that the incidence of certain diseases is similar in both men and women, but the percentage of men actually availing treatment is far higher than that of women. Very often, this is the result of the deeply ingrained societal belief that men are superior and bread-winners of the family, and therefore deserve better health care, and even nutrition. With such a situation prevailing, even serious and life threatening conditions go undetected in women.
In the case of kidney disease also, the plight of women is no different. Women are also more likely than men to donate a kidney, while more men than women receive dialysis or undergo kidney transplantation. Even certain government health schemes for the benefit of patients, like free or subsidized treatment or medicines, are utilized more by men than by women. This indicates that expenditure is also not always a criterion for women being denied adequate health care.
Patients have many doubts regarding post-transplant care, especially with regard to ‘tac level’, a concept encountered during post-transplant follow-up. KWF organized a session on 4th September, 2020, with Dr. Vijay Kher, Chairman, Nephrology, Medanta Kidney & Urology Institute, New Delhi, to address concerns and queries related to maintaining tac level. The session was moderated by Maryann Manasseh.
At the outset, Dr. Vijay establishes that kidney transplant is the best treatment for kidney failure, by providing statistics for the survival of transplant patients in comparison to patients on dialysis. A transplant provides the best long-term outcome in terms of improving the quality of life and being cost-effective.
In this video, Ms. Shalini describes the complementary role of carbohydrates and proteins, the foods that constitute the larger portion of a meal. While carbohydrates generate energy, proteins build the muscles and cells in the body.
KWF felt the pressing need to disseminate the information in our book Nutritional Secrets among a wider audience, so that a larger number of patients and caregivers can benefit from the abundant information it contains. To achieve this goal, Nutritional Secrets is being shared in the form of a series of videos, where dieticians and experts speak about the different components of a diet suitable for kidney patients. The series begins with a video featuring an Introduction, followed by a Promotion showing the usability of the book, and goes on to present information about the various elements of a diet, namely, macronutrients and micronutrients such as Protein and Carbohydrates, Sodium, Phosphorus, Potassium, Fluid, Fiber and Fats.
Anjali views Nutritional Secrets as a fantastic book for kidney patients to explore in order to enjoy their diet with good choices. She explains the importance of looking beyond restrictions and identifying substitutes to make meals interesting.
An interesting webinar on the diagnostic procedure known as biopsy was held on September 9, 2020. The guest speaker for the event was Dr. Narayan Prasad, Professor, Department of Nephrology, SGPI, Lucknow, and the event was moderated by Maryann Manasseh and Mr. Anand Lal Banerjee. Dr. Prasad interacted with participants in Hindi and English, explaining in minute detail, going into all the intricacies of the need, process and outcome of a kidney biopsy. He began by showing a video of a biopsy procedure being carried out to demonstrate the precision with which it is conducted.
