Kidney Health Awareness Run by AINU Hospital

Chennai, 5^th March 2023: Ahead of World Kidney Day (which falls on March 9th  ), AINU Hospital Chennai organized a 5K Run to spread awareness about  Kidney health on Sunday at the Olcott Memorial Higher Secondary School, Besant Nagar. Over 1000 participants, including fitness enthusiasts, professional runners, families, corporate employees, and students, volunteered to support Kidney health awareness. 

World Kidney Day is aimed at increasing awareness and to educate everyone about the importance of kidney health. World Kidney Day is celebrated every year on the second Thursday of March, This year the world Kidney day is on March 9^th. The theme for WKD this year is ‘Kidney Health for All – Preparing for the unexpected, supporting the vulnerable!’ 

The kidneys are vital organs for filtering waste and excess fluids from the body. They also regulate blood pressure, produce hormones, and maintain a healthy balance of electrolytes. Kidney diseases are a serious health concern that affects millions of people in India. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a condition that can remain asymtomatic and lead to kidney failure if not detected and treated early. Some risk factors for kidney disease include high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, smoking, and a family history of kidney disease.

The Kidney Health Awareness Run by AINU is aimed to educate people about the risk factors for kidney disease, how to prevent it, and how to manage kidney disease if it develops. This run was about promoting a healthy lifestyle to combat kidney-related diseases.

Dr. Arun Kumar Balakrishnan, Managing Director of the Asian Institute of Nephrology and Urology in Chennai, also graced the event. He graduated from Sri Ramachandra University in Chennai and pursued a Urooncology fellowship in the United Kingdom. Dr. Balakrishnan has extensive experience as a Senior Consultant in Chennai, focusing on Endourology, Robotic Surgery, and Renal Transplantation. He is a committed member of various Urological Societies and remains actively involved in advancing the field through his work and research. With his impressive credentials and expertise, Dr. Balakrishnan is a respected figure in the medical community dedicated to providing his patients with the best possible care. Talking about the AINU Kidney run he said “This 5 km run was an opportunity to raise awareness about the importance of kidney health and support those affected by kidney disease. There is data to suggest that As many as 9 in 10 adults with CKD do not know they have CKD and about 2 in 5 adults with severe CKD do not know they have CKD. All of you participating in this initiative have helped us spread the message about the risk factors for kidney disease, promote healthy habits, and encourage early detection and treatment, which is need of the hour with regard to renal illnesses.”

Ma. Subramanian, Tamil Nadu’s Health Minister, flagged off the 5 km run. He said,” This initiative is crucial in promoting kidney health and raising awareness about the importance of early detection and treatment of kidney disease. Kidney disease is a severe health concern, and we must work together to prevent it from becoming a public health crisis. Through initiatives like this, we can encourage people to lead healthy lifestyles, get regular check-ups, and take proactive measures to protect their kidney health. I applaud everyone involved in this initiative and look forward to seeing its impact on our community.”

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