Approximately 3.80 crore people in the country are suffering from kidney diseases, experts made the disclosure during a roundtable meeting held at the National Press Club in the city on Saturday (9 March).
The Kidney Awareness Monitoring and Prevention Society, a voluntary healthcare provider, organised the roundtable meeting in a bid to create awareness amongst the people about the kidney ailments.
The programme was attended by Professor AK Azad Khan, president of the Diabetic Association of Bangladesh (BADAS); Prof Dr ABM Abdullah, Prime Minister's personal physician; Dr Mohammad Robed Amin, line director at the Non-Communicable Disease Control (NCDC); and Professor Harun Ur Rashid, founder and president of the Kidney Foundation.
Citing data from a research paper published two years ago, Professor Robed Amin, said, "In the country, kidney diseases affect about 3.8 crore people. Of them, 40,000 to 50,000 people have kidney failure."
Speakers noted that people often misunderstand kidney disease prevention measures. However, the government has initiated efforts to identify the disease at the primary stage.
During the event, speakers urged the government to introduce insurance for kidney patients.
Professor Harun-ur-Rashid said, "People above 40 years of age should undergo regular kidney check-ups because initially, there are no symptoms of kidney disease. Symptoms appear after 80 to 85 percent of the kidneys are damaged."