The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Dhaka

Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser for Post and Telecommunications and Social Welfare Brigadier General (retd) MA Malek on Thursday said the government would support private initiatives in setting up kidney hospitals in the country to make treatment for kidney diseases cheap and easily available.

The special assistant was addressing as the chief guest a discussion meeting to mark the World Kidney Day at Diploma Engineers Institute.

Bangladesh Renal Association, Kidney Foundation, Kidney Awareness, Monitoring and Prevention Society (KAMPS) and Bangladesh Paediatric Nephrology Society (PNSB) jointly organised the meeting.

Among others, BSMMU Vice-Chancellor Professor Mohammad Tahir, President of Bangladesh Renal Association and Kidney Foundation Professor Harunar Rashid, KAMPS Chairman Dr MA Samad and PNSB General Secretary Professor Dr Mohammad Firoj Khan spoke at the function.

Brig (retd) Malek said doctors should not forget they have become physicians studying on people's money. The doctors should stay away from all illegal incomes, he added.

The more the doctors take care of patients, Brig (retd) Malek said, they would have more confidence in the treatment available at home and it would also cut down the patients' tendency to avail treatment abroad.

The special assistant urged the physicians to set up examples of honesty and love for the patients. The speakers told the meeting that about two crore people are suffering from some kinds of kidney troubles. Every year, 35,000 people die of kidney failure. The main reason for renal failures are nephritis, diabetes and high blood pressure. If the kidney troubles are detected early, the rate of kidney failures could be cut down through proper treatment, they added.

They said it was not possible for 95 per cent of people to continue with long term treatment because of expenses. So, prevention is the key to survival. They sought cooperation of all including the media to create mass awareness about kidney disease and its remedy, the speakers added.

Earlier, a rally was brought out from Matsya Bhaban to Diploma Engineers Institute to mark the day. The Kidney Foundation will transplant a kidney into a poor patient for free on March 16. It will also provide free treatment for about 500 patients at Chakulia village of Savar on Friday. Free medical camps will also be arranged to diagnose kidney disease in Chittagong, Rajshahi and Sylhet, according to press releases.