Chandigarh: Around 100 people, including patients and healthcare workers, participated in a walkathon organised by Shelby Hospital, Mohali, at Sukhna Lake on Wednesday, on the eve of World Kidney Day.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Professor KL Gupta, Senior Nephrologist at Shelby Hospital, Mohali, highlighted the growing crisis of chronic kidney disease.
He said, “In India, chronic kidney disease affects approximately 15-17% of the adult population – over 20 million people – and according to recent data from the Indian Society of Nephrology, the rate is even higher, at 20-25%, in urban and rural areas of Punjab.” Dr. Gupta warned that diabetes and hypertension, which account for 60-75% of cases nationwide (and similarly in Punjab), are making the disease epidemic.
Untreated chronic kidney disease can be fatal, gradually leading to end-stage renal failure, heart disease, or stroke, and claims over 100,000 lives annually in India alone. Dr. Gupta emphasized that 80 million people suffer from kidney disease globally, but early detection can be crucial.
Lalit Sharma, Chief Administrative Officer of Shelby Hospital, Mohali, said, “We are moving from treatment to prevention, and through awareness and accessible care, we are empowering the Punjab community to fight this silent killer.” Are empowering.