National

Two crore suffering from kidney disease

The number of kidney patients has increased alarmingly as two crore people in the country are now somehow suffering from kidney disease. Among the kidney patients, 35,000 permanent kidney failure cases are recorded every year, health experts told a press conference on "Successful 500 kidney transplantations" at the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) here.Vice chancellor of BSMMU Dr Kamrul Islam Khan, pro-vice chancellor Prof Shahidullah Sikdar, Prof Golam Kibria and Prof SK Khan, among others, addressed the press conference.Chairman of Department of BSMMU Prof Dr Shahidul Islam Selim presented the keynote paper at the press conference. Dr Kamrul said massive awareness campaign should be launched to motivate the people for donating kidney after their deaths."As the number of chronic kidney ailment has increased in the country, kidney donation of deceased persons could save lives of kidney patients," he added.Kidney ailment is a silent killer disease as symptoms of the disease becomes visible when 50 percent kidneys are destroyed, other health experts said adding unhealthy lifestyle and lack of awareness lead to kidney ailment. Dr Shahidul said "We can prevent kidney disease easily, if we become aware of keeping our kidney healthy by taking some preventive measures including having adequate water daily, controlling high blood pressures, diabetics and overweight."