JIPMER, Puducherry has taken efforts to improve the awareness of kidney diseases especially its increase among women as the 8th leading cause of death by inaugurating a half-day CME on World Kidney Day (8 March).

Jipmer Director S C Parija on 7 March stressed that the general community should be made aware of kidney diseases and the ways and means to prevent them. Inaugurating a half-day CME to mark the World Kidney Day on Thursday, Dr Parija said Women are considered to have equal or even higher risk for developing Chronic Kidney diseases. Some diseases like Systemic Lupus Erythematous and recurrent kidney infection is encountered in women. These conditions, if neglected predispose to kidney failure. Similarly, patients with kidney diseases are at a high risk for complications during pregnancy.

He stressed that women should take necessary health check-ups periodically and this will help them to maintain a good health and to take appropriate medical interventions. Dr Sreejith Parameshwaran, HOD of Nephrology said that in the last few decades the prevalence of kidney diseases has been increasing steadily. As per current estimates Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) affects an approximately 195 million women worldwide and it is currently the 8^th leading cause of death in women, with close to 600,000 deaths each year.

He stated that on March 6, 2018, in collaboration with Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, a kidney disease screening camp was conducted for women at Kottakkuppam Village where 300 women were screened for kidney related diseases.
Experts in the field of Nephrology spoke about Various Kidney disorders in Women. The speakers were Dr Suceena Alexander, Professor of Nephrology, CMC Vellore, Dr Abirami Krishnan, Senior Consultant Nephrologist, Salem and Dr P S Priyamvada from JIPMER.