During the week of 10th March World Kidney Day was promoted at a number of sites in Bedford and Luton (Bedford Hospital, Bedford College, Wixams Retirement Village and Luton Cricket Club) and focussed particularly on the pressing need to increase the numbers of kidney transplants. There are currently an estimated 88,000 people living with chronic kidney disease in the Bedfordshire, Luton, and Milton Keynes area. In this area around 380 people currently rely on dialysis to stay alive.
Research estimates this could increase to as many as 1,820 people by 2033 if interventions are not made to diagnose and treat people earlier to prevent them from reaching the stage of needing dialysis. However, even so, there will still be those who will need some form of renal replacement therapy (transplant or dialysis). The most effective treatment is a kidney transplant, particularly a live donor transplant. A live donor can donate one kidney to a sibling or close relative as this is the best chance of a good match, although there are many successful transplants from donors who are not related. The donor can continue to live a comfortable life while significantly improving the quality of life for the recipient.
The problem is that there is a severe shortage of kidneys available for transplantation, both from live and deceased donors. Due to a shortage of donors, Tarsem Paul, Chair of the Organ Donation Committee, said “a major push is required across all communities, but particularly to support and educate ethnic minority groups about the importance of organ donation in saving lives. Organ donation represents the gift of life, ‘It’s the greatest gift that anyone can give – the gift of life’.”.
Your kidneys are amazing – they do much more than produce urine; here are some facts: • Kidneys remove waste and extra fluid, are involved in controlling Blood, Pressure, producing red blood cells and maintaining bone health • Kidneys filter around 180 litres of blood every day. • Kidneys filter your blood 40 times a day. • One in 4 people are not aware of the symptoms of kidney disease If we do not increase levels of transplantation and work on earlier intervention, we run the risk that kidney disease will become a major killer by 2040. If you would like to learn more about becoming a living donor, visit the Organ Donation website.
