According to Director of Bach Mai Hospital Dr. Nguyen Quoc Anh, the World Health Organisation has selected the second Thursday in March to become the annual World Kidney Day.
The annual global awareness and educational event is held with an aim to call for joint efforts in easing difficulties of patients with renal diseases, as well as raising public awareness on ‘golden rules’ to prevent and treat kidney diseases and kidney disease complications such as diabetes and hypertension.
Eight ‘golden rules’ to protect kidneys before disease strikes include: maintaining appropriate physical activities; keeping regular control of blood sugar levels; monitoring blood pressure; eating healthily and controlling weight; maintaining a healthy fluid intake; abstaining from smoking; taking medicine as directed by doctors; and having kidney function check-ups.
Dr. Nguyen Huu Dung, Head of Bach Mai Hospital’s Artificial Kidney Department, revealed that Vietnam has about 8,000 new patients with renal impairment each year. The number of patients with renal failure accounts for 6.73% of Vietnam's population, of which, those at the final-stage of renal failure requiring dialysis accounts for 0.09% of the population and only 10% of them are on dialysis.
Currently, the department offers treatment for nearly 650 patients. Through the application of modern optimal dialysis in kidney treatment, the department aims to reduce incident and mortality rates of kidney diseases, thus improving the quality of life for kidney patients, Dr. Dung said.
