Kidney Foundation asked to take service to grassroots
Cultural Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Noor said on Saturday that it is urgent to raise more awareness about kidney and other non-communicable diseases. He also emphasised on the expansion of Kidney Foundation’s activities outside of Dhaka to serve the people in the grassroots.
‘Bangladesh Kidney Foundation has been working to cure kidney diseases, transplantation and awareness of the country. The number of kidney patients in the country is increasing day by day due to various reasons, said the minister. ‘For this reason, expansion of the Foundation activities outside of Dhaka is necessary. Grassroots people will get the necessary facilities to treat the disease, including kidney transplantation if Foundation works outside Dhaka,’ Noor added, reports the UNB.
Cultural Affairs Minister was addressing as chief guest at the inauguration of the ISN Pioneer Award 2017 and scientific seminar - ‘Global Burden of Chronic Kidney Disease’ jointly organized by Bangladesh Kidney Foundation and the Bangladesh Renal Association, Kidney Foundation Hospital and Research Institute at Mirpur in the city.
Mentioning that prevention is better than cure, the chief guest said ‘We should raise more awareness about kidney and other non-communicable diseases. Kidney Foundation can play a role in this regard. This will help the common people to get relief from diseases related to physical and mental distress.’
Assuring the cooperation from his ministry, Asaduzzaman Noor said, ‘Celebrities and artists can play an important role in making people aware of different diseases. In this regard, the Cultural Affairs Ministry is ready to provide necessary assistance to the Health Ministry,’ he added.
President of Bangladesh Renal Association Professor Rafiqul Alam presided over the seminar while US-based University of Leicester’s Emeritus Nephrologists Consultant, Program Chair of International Society of Nephrology (ISN) and former president Professor John Feehally presented the keynote speech.
President of Bangladesh Kidney Foundation Professor Dr Harun Ur Rashid was honoured with the ISN Pioneer Award for the year 2017 from South Asia Region.
Social Welfare Ministry Secretary Zillar Rahman and Director General of Health Department Professor Abul Kamal Azad attended the ceremony as special guests.
Bangladesh Kidney Foundation Secretary General Prof. M. Muhibur Rahman delivered the welcome speech while vice-president of Bangladesh Renal Association professor Ayub Ali Chowdhury placed the concluding speech.