by Rene V. Carbayas
ISABELA CITY, Basilan, June 19 (PIA) – The Department of Health (DOH)
Representative in Isabela City and the Provincial Health Office in Basilan
reiterate the importance of public awareness of taking care of kidneys as the
health department observes National Kidney Month this June.
In a radio interview, DOH-Rep in Isabela City Dr. Paysal Kasim
underscored the importance of personal hygiene as key to prevent urinary tract
infection and kidney diseases. He urged parents to teach children proper
hygiene.
“Women are mostly affected by urinary tract infection because of their
unique reproductive organ as compared to men,” Dr. Kasim noted, saying that the
reproductive organs of women are more exposed to bacterial infection which
could also lead to urinary tract infection.
Dr. Kasim is guest at Philippine Information Agency’s radio program Noticias-Informaccion con Musica over
DXNO-FM Radyo Komunidad de Isabela City.
Kasim stressed the importance of the kidneys with cleansing the blood as
their most important function to keep the balance and nutrients of the body.
Kidneys are important parts of the urinary system. They are found at
each side of the spine, below the rib cage of the human body. Each kidney is as
big as a fist, weighs ¼ pound and looks like a kidney bean.
Kasim strongly pointed out that once the kidney fails, it is
irreversible. Aside from the rudiments of kidney transplants and regular
dialysis, there are no remedies for a kidney failure. Thus, he said that every
individual should give utmost attention and concern to their kidneys.
In a separate radio interview, Renal Disease Control Program (REDCOP)
Provincial Coordinator Cathy Veloso-Mutamad and Health Education-Promotions
Officer (HEPO) Leilani Eugenio also urged the public to prevent kidney diseases
by having regular urinalysis.
Mutamad said end-stage renal disease is preventable if diagnosed early.
She encouraged patients to visit nearest health centers in their area on how to
avail of the services related to kidney problems.
Eugenio, meanwhile, noted that as the 10th leading cause of
death in the Philippines, kidney diseases is preventable if every individual
has sufficient knowledge of the role of kidney and its functions in our bodies.
Dr. Kasim, moreover, encourages the public to have more fluid-intake of
clean water to help kidneys function well. He strongly advises patients to
follow religiously the medical advice and medication intakes as directed by
their doctors.
He noted that kidneys perform vital
life-maintaining functions as monitors and regulators of body fluid. Kidneys
excrete fluids when the body has an excess of them and retain the substances
necessary for the body’s continuing function. They produce and release a
variety of chemicals to keep the body healthy and filter the entire blood
supply every two minutes, excreting waste materials through the urine. Kidneys
also play a major role in the control of blood pressure. (RVC/PIA9-ZBST)