Qaim calls for concerted efforts to prevent kidney disease

Sindh Chief Minister, Syed Qaim Ali Shah here on Thursday expressed his concern viz a viz rising incidence of renal failure, in Pakistan and urged for focus on prevention. Addressing the symposium organised by Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation to mark the World Kidney Day, he said the fact that one of ten people suffer from some sort of chronic kidney disease was horrendous.
The Chief Minister who was the chief guest at the public awareness symposium also took exception to the estimates that kidney disease itself accounts for 72 percent of the total global burden of disease in people over 30 years with a high prevalence in developing countries.
Syed Qaim Ali Shah said that since treating chronic kidney diseases was costly, with specific reference to most affective options like dialysis and transplantation, therefore focus must be on prevention. "The only feasible solution is prevention of chronic kidney disease," he said.
The Sindh Chief Minister also urged people and society in general to understand that early detection is possible through simple tests, which he said were now quite readily available. Syed Qaim Ali Shah was full of praise for the patriotic services of Professor Adibul Hassan Rizvi and his team for providing excellent care to patients with kidney ailments.
SIUT is a role model and a centre of excellence in the country, offering free services to patients from all over Pakistan, he said. The Chief Minister said that the government was fully committed to support SIUT through grant-in-aid financial help. Professor S. Adibul Hassan Rizvi, Director SIUT, in his welcome address said there was dire need to spread public awareness about kidney diseases.
He said it was our ethical, moral and national responsibility to create awareness about kidney diseases. Referring to the philosophy of SIUT, he said "we believe in providing services free with dignity". Professor Rizvi enumerated the state of art facilities provided at SIUT for dialysis, transplantation, lithotripsy and all medical and surgical treatment.