MEDICAL experts, health care professionals and research institutions in Latin America and the Caribbean have long been sounding alarm bells about the number of deaths caused by chronic diseases.
Additionally, the future prognosis paints a disturbing picture of an increase in deaths, with patients having to face huge costs for treatment, healthcare systems and national economies encountering greater financial burdens.
It is against the background of this disturbing reality that led medical practitioners, health professionals and special interest groups to conclude that there is need for a kidney foundation to be established that could assist efforts aimed at mitigating crises.
And, with inspiration and mentoring from Guyanese-born  Professor Emeritus, George Nicholson, of the University of the West Indies, on the observance yesterday of World Kidney Day 2011, under the theme `Protect your kidney, save your heart’, a  Kidney Foundation of Guyana (KFG)was launched at Herdmanston Lodge, Peter Rose and Lamaha Streets, in the City.
The focus this year, of the 6th World Kidney Day observance, calls attention to the role played by kidney dysfunction in increasing premature cardiovascular disease.
Yesterday’s ceremony, attended by Health Minister Dr Leslie Ramsammy, Minister within the Ministry of Health Dr Beri Ramsaran, Professor George Nicholson, Dr Deen Sharma, members of the KFG Board and representatives of the medical profession, was sponsored by Scotiabank. And members of the corporate society are being encouraged to support and sustain the cause.
Major General (retired) Joseph Singh will function as the chairman of the Board, with veteran media consultant Hugh Cholmondeley as secretary and Claudette Harry as treasurer.
The KFG seeks to promote public awareness about prevention, treatment and consequences of kidney and urinary tract diseases; to support national health –care efforts aimed at reducing illnesses caused by hypertension, diabetes and obesity; and to encourage partnerships that mobilise financial and other  resources to assist individuals who suffer from, or are susceptible to, chronic kidney disease.
It will target persons residing in this country’s urban, rural and hinterland communities vulnerable to obesity, diabetes, hypertension and kidney-failure, who are unaware of the impact of such diseases on their lives and livelihoods.
Dr. Ramsammy, in lauding the initiative in his feature address, said it should not be seen as a small step but as a great leap forward for Guyana. He said it is initiatives like the KFG that would make a difference in the country and inspire the population to live better lives
Describing chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs) as a menacing enemy and “the heart of the matter”, he said these have been on the increase through accompanying changes in lifestyles, and stressed that educating the masses is a critical component in prevention.
According to him, 74.1% of all deaths in Guyana are due to the NCDs and from a gender perspective, 81.0% of all female deaths are due to the NCDs and 69% of all male deaths are due to the NCDs.
In addition, deaths due to psychiatric illnesses globally represent more than more than 80% and are due to NCDs.
The situation in Guyana is the same for all countries in the Caribbean and in Africa and Asia.
Also, only 13.2% of all deaths in Guyana are linked to infectious, communicable diseases and 12.7% of deaths are due to injuries.
The government currently spends about $300M on medicines for just diabetes and hypertension, as about 60,000 are living with these diseases in Guyana.

Kidney disease is an inherited condition from diabetes. About five per cent of the Guyanese population suffers from acute kidney disease, but according to the minister, early detection is vital.
He noted that Guyana is still to make optimal use of what it has available to it.
Professor Nicholson, in his presentation, highlighted the main problems facing Guyana and other Caribbean countries with regard to chemo dialysis therapy or renal replacement therapy; the consequences of inaction, the efforts of the Caribbean and other kidney foundations  and the background to the Guyana initiative .
He said the most obvious of the problems is the absence of financial capacity and a dire dearth of personnel with the knowledge and experience to manage dialysis and renal transplant patients.
Touching on the consequences of inaction, Dr Nicholson disclosed that without dialysis, the lives of five young people suffering from reversible renal failure would have been lost.
He underscored and reiterated the need for funding for dialysis, since the majority of patients needing such care and follow-up treatment cannot afford the high excessive expenditure.
He noted that renal transplants have been performed in Jamaica for some 30 years, the first transplant in Barbados in 1980, and 53 in neighbouring Trinidad last year. There is a great body of expertise, he said.
Dr Sharma, who is credited for re-introducing clinical research in Guyana, touched on how the activities of the KFG would be implemented, and stressed the need for prevention. He said too, awareness of the ills of non-communicable disease is necessary with the major focus on diet and exercise.
On this note, he spoke of obesity and overweight which are known to be powerful indicators of the tendency to develop diabetes.
Diabetes is also the primary cause of illnesses suffered by nearly one-half of all Guyanese patients who experience severe kidney failure.
Major General Singh, in his remarks, noted that increased attention to the kidney can improve long-term health outcomes by reducing cardiovascular disease, and as such, should be a central plan of any health strategy aimed at reducing the burden of non-communicable diseases.
He noted that the discussions over the last six months by the group drawn form the medical profession, private sector and service organizations centered on the situation in Guyana as it relates to chronic kidney disease.
He said members of the KFG Board are of the view that it is on the right track, and through creative partnerships, the goal would be realized.
KFG is a registered charter with a bank account at the Scotiabank.