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26/05/2009
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Media
Release 26 May 2009
Governor General Launches Kidney
Health Week Kidney Health Week 24-30 May
2009
The Governor General and Patron in
Chief of Kidney Health Australia, Her Excellency Ms
Quentin Bryce AC, will officially launch Kidney Health
Week 2009 at the Canberra Hospital this morning before
visiting the Hospital's dialysis unit.
Anne Wilson, Chief Executive of
Kidney Health Australia said with one in three
Australians at increased risk of kidney disease
the need for people to keep their blood pressure
down to reduce the risk of damaging their kidneys is a
major target in the battle against Chronic Kidney
Disease in Australia.
Ms Wilson said "high blood pressure
affects 1 in 4 Australians and recent research has
revealed that 50% of patients do not have blood pressure
managed to the target levels.
"Research has also shown that 80% of
patients with failed kidneys had high blood pressure
which is a major contributor to Chronic Kidney Disease
with CKD being responsible for 12% of all
hospital admissions in 2007."
Australian Bureau of Statistics figures
released earlier this year showed that diseases of the
kidney and urinary tract have jumped to 10th on the
leading cause of death list with 3230 deaths in 2007
being attributed as the single underlying cause.
This number has increased 123% in the
last decade. Most of this increase appears to be
due to an increase in chronic kidney failure deaths that
have risen 148% in the last decade - 2046 deaths in 2007
compared with 1386 in 1998, with a striking 133%
rise over the last 3 years.
A highlight of the 2009 Kidney
Health Week launch will be the official recognition of
two Canberra residents who will receive Kidney Health
Australia Operation Angel Awards for their outstanding
contribution to assisting people with Chronic Kidney
Disease. Bill
Handke cares for his wife Jenny who has kidney
disease, requiring dialysis regularly. Jenny, like
hundreds of other Australians is hopeful of eventually
receiving a kidney transplant. Bill is head of the
Kidney Health Australia Consumer Group.
David Parker has suffered
from Chronic Kidney Disease from birth and started on
dialysis in 2005 and he received a transplant in 2008.
David is involved with seven different boards and
advisory committees nationally and in the ACT working on
organ donation, renal service delivery and public health
and consumer advocacy.
Ms Wilson said Chronic Kidney Disease if detected
at an early stage is treatable and patients may never
have to undertake the extreme treatment of going onto
dialysis three times a week when their kidneys fail.
Kidney Health Australia encourages everyone to
look after their health and reduce the risks of
developing the disease by maintaining a healthy
lifestyle.
Chronic Kidney Disease Fact -
Although Indigenous Australians represent less than 2.5%
of the national population, they account for
approximately 10% of people commencing kidney
replacement therapy. Media Enquiries:
Anne Wilson Chief Executive Kidney Health Australia
Mobile: 0400 165 391 Ron Smith, National
Communications Manager, Kidney Health
Australia
Mobile: 0417 329
201
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