WAR AMPS MENTOR PAGE A3
Canine bling PAGE A12
TELEFEST AT TROLL PAGE A15
OBSERVER QUESNEL - CARIBOO
SINCE 1908
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
VOL. 99 NO. 55
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Gold Pan City gets behind kidney awareness AUTUMN MacDONALD Observer Reporter Awareness is key. And in tune with that theme, a pep rally at Spirit Square is slated for Thursday in promotion of World Kidney Day. “Education, research and awareness are key,” Mayor Mary Sjostrom said. “I am a member of the Quesnel branch and I encourage residents to get involved and support our local group.” Launched jointly by the International Society of Nephrology and the International Federation of Kidney Foundations, the purpose of World Kidney Day is to increase awareness and draw attention to the urgent global need for early detection and prevention of the growing epidemic of kidney disease. Every year on World Kidney Day (WKD) and throughout the month of March, The Kidney Foundation of Canada, BC Branch partners with The BC Renal Agency and BC Transplant on a range of activities and events. The Gold Pan City is treated to music, a pep rally (courtesy of Correlieu secondary students), information and entertainment. It all starts at 10:45 Thursday at Spirit Square. “Bringing in the youth is huge,” Kidney Foundation Quesnel chapter president Bonnie Leclerc said. “This is all about education and awareness; everyone is invited to this free event.” Kidney facts:
• Kidney disease is underrecognized, incurable and on the rise. • In the last 10 years, kidney disease has increased by 60 per cent. • It is estimated that this disease affects one in 10 Canadians. • More than 240,000 British Columbians have, or are at risk for, kidney disease. • Many symptoms of kidney disease are silent until almost 50 per cent of the kidney function is lost. • Approximately 480 people in B.C. are currently waiting for a life-saving transplant. • Hemodialysis is the treatment used in the majority of dialysis cases and it costs roughly $60,000 per patient per year. • The one-time cost for a kidney transplant is approximately $23,000 plus $6,000 per year for necessary medication. • Over a five-year period, a transplant is approximately $250,000 less expensive per patient than dialysis while improving quality of life. • The median wait time for a kidney transplant in B.C. in 2012 was 43.65 months, compared to 62.6 months in 2011. • In 2012, there were 194 kidney transplants in B.C. • Nearly 40 per cent of kidney transplants are made possible by living donors. • When surveyed, 85 per cent of British Columbians say they would register to be an organ donor, but only 19 per cent have registered their wishes on the organ donor registry. To register as an organ donor, www.kidney.bc.ca.
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