On the occasion of World Kidney Day, the National Public Health Center stages a campaign to raise awareness of the need to keep kidneys healthy. Consultant of the Health Ministry’s press service Stela Cheptene has told IPN that during three days, specialists of the Center will give talks at four nursery schools of Chisinau. 

This year’s slogan of World Kidney Day is “Kidney disease and children. Act early to prevent it!”. In Moldova, the total incidence of diseases of the genitourinary system in 2014 was 202 cases per 10,000 people, while among children younger than 18 - 101 cases per 10,000 people.

According to the National Public Health Center, the congenital disorders and hereditary diseases are the main causes of renal insufficiency in children younger than 4. Among children aged between 5 and 14, renal insufficiency is most often caused by hereditary diseases, nephritic syndrome and systemic diseases, while among those aged between 15 and 19 – by diseases that affect the glomeruli of kidneys.

10% of the population worldwide is affected by chronic kidney disease, and millions die each year because they do not have access to affordable treatment.

Among the measures to prevent chronic kidney disease in children are to educate them to lead a healthy lifestyle since early childhood, to do prenatal tests to diagnose fetal malformations, to avoid smoking and alcohol abuse, to eat healthily during pregnancy and to immunize the children.