Dhaka: The number of kidney patients has increased alarmingly as two crore people in Bangladesh are now somehow suffering from kidney disease, said leading health experts.

Unhealthy lifestyle and lack of awareness lead to kidney ailment, they told a press conference held at the Jatiya Press Club in capital on Friday.

Save Life Foundation and Gift Life Foundation jointly organized the press conference on the occasion of the World Kidney Day to be observed on 12 March. This year's theme of the world kidney day is "healthy kidney for all".

Chief Advisor of Save Life Foundation and Gift Life Foundation National Prof MR Khan, Former Secretary Margub Morhsed, Advisor of Burn Unit of Dhaka Medical College Dr Samanta Lal Sen, Founder President of Kidney Foundation Professor Harun-or Rashid, Chairman Kidney Awareness Monitoring and Prevention Society, Professor Dr MA Samad, among others, addressed the function.

Save Life Foundation and Gift Life Foundation convener Dr Sohely Ahmed Sweety read out a written speech at the press conference.

Dr Sohely said, ‘We have to control high blood pressure and diabetics as well as to avoid smoking for preventing kidney ailments.’

Describing kidney ailment as s silent killer disease, she urged the people to check overweight and to have safe drinking water for keeping kidney healthy.

The health experts stressed the need for launching massive awareness campaign across the country on kidney disease for ensuring save and healthy life.

At the press conference, Professor MR Khan and Dr Sohely Ahmed Sweety on behalf of Save Life Foundation and Gift Life Foundation handed over a cheque for Taka 2.25 lakh to Professor Dr MA Samanta Lal for burn victims of Dhaka Medical College Hospital.