Love your kidneys? Watch your food and drink, people told

By LULU MARK
PEOPLE can avoid lifestyle diseases by controlling the type of food and drink they consume, people attending a World Kidney Day event in Port Moresby were told yesterday.
The day is a global health awareness campaign focusing on the importance of the kidneys and how to reduce the frequency and impact of kidney disease and its associated health problems worldwide.
It is observed annually on the second Thursday of March.
The Papua New Guinea Kidney Foundation set up a kidney disease awareness booth at the Vision City Mega Mall in Port Moresby.
Foundation chief operations officer Khalik Untong said the event was a way of spreading the awareness on kidney disease.
He said many people in this country had been diagnosed with kidney disease and those who could afford it received treatment.
“With the trend we are going, more people will be diagnosed. Hence it is important to increase our awareness efforts,” Untong said.
Gowas Gewa, whose son is being treated at the foundation’s dialysis centre, said people should see that they have regular medical checkupds.
“However, it is important to be conscious of the food and drink one is taking,” she said. “Kidney disease is a lifestyle disease and can be prevented. If your kidney fails, then you will depend on the dialysis machine.”