Duke Global Health Fellow and Master of Science in Global Health student John Stanifer was part of a team that screened more than 1,500 Tanzanians in honor of World Kidney Day last week. The day is recognized on the second Thursday of March.
In all, more than 1,500 patients from Moshi and surrounding areas were screened for chronic kidney disease, hypertension, diabetes, and obesity. Team members say the disease burden was high. The event was led by physician Akrabi Hudaa and colleagues at the Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre, including attending, medicine residents and medical students.
The prevalence of kidney disease is increasing dramatically and the cost of treating it poses an enormous burden on health care systems worldwide. Patients with diabetes and hypertension have a greater risk of developing kidney disease, which affects five to seven percent of the world population and is more common in developing countries and disadvantaged and minority populations. Early detection and treatment of kidney disease using readily available, inexpensive therapies can slow or prevent progression to end-stage renal disease.
Stanifer contributed a post about World Kidney Day in Moshi on the International Society of Nephrology website.
