Brunei Darussalam has one of the highest rates of end-stage kidney disease in the world. The Brunei Dialysis and Transplant Registry recorded 1,018 cases in 2023, Minister of Health Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Mohd Isham bin Haji Jaafar said during the World Kidney Day 2024 roadshow at The Mall, Gadong yesterday.
The minister added, “Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a serious global health challenge, affecting more than 850 million people worldwide.”
He noted that CKD is ranked as the eighth leading cause of death, resulting in over 3.1 million deaths in 2019 and if left unaddressed, CKD is projected to become the fifth leading cause of death by 2040.
This year’s kidney day themed ‘Kidney Health for All – Advancing Equitable Access to Care and Optimal Medication Practice’ underscores the importance of ensuring equitable access to appropriate treatment and care for people with kidney disease. The minister stressed that raising public awareness about CKD and its management is crucial to improving patients’ quality of life and delaying disease progression.
Over the past three decades, kidney disease treatment has focused on kidney replacement therapies, such as dialysis and transplants, the minister said, adding that “recent therapeutic advancements’ offer unprecedented opportunities to prevent, delay and reduce complications of kidney diseases if initiated early and maintained consistently”.
The Ministry of Health remains committed to making new treatments available to all patients needing them, the minister said. “The ministry is actively working to improve access to treatment, including providing dialysis services in centred close to communities.
“On the other hand, awareness about kidney disease remains low, with one study indicating that 80 to 95 per cent of patients nationwide are unaware of their condition,” the minister said. This lack of awareness, he added, results in missed opportunities for timely treatment and optimal care.
The minister urged individuals to take responsibility for their health by understanding their health needs, making healthy choices and seeking psychosocial support if necessary. The roadshow aimed to increase public awareness about kidney disease, inform people about risk factors such as diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity, promote a healthy lifestyle and encourage adherence to treatment strategies, the minister said.
“Let us all strive together to maintain the health of our kidneys and enjoy a healthy and prosperous life. Take the opportunity to learn about kidney diseases, including their treatment and prevention, and appreciate the government’s efforts by always adhering to medical advice,” the minister said. – Rokiah Mahmud
