Chronic Kidney Disease Rally Monday

A "Rally for Life" will be held at the State Capitol in support of measures funding Chronic Kidney Disease care in Hawaii. The House Filipino Caucus, chaired by Rep. Michael Magaoay, will host the rally.

U.S. Congressman Neil Abercrombie will give the keynote speech asking the state to support measures to address Chronic Kidney Disease immediately. State Lawmakers, St. Francis Healthcare System of Hawaii, the National Kidney Foundation of Hawaii, and the Organ Donor Center of Hawaii cosponsored the rally.

WHEN: Monday, April 21, 2008
1:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.

WHERE: State Capitol Rotunda

HB2913 would award Saint Francis Healthcare System with a grant, requiring $1,000,000 in matching funds, to build the infrastructure needed for a stable facility that provides care for acute dialysis patients.

Consider the following statistics on the CKD epidemic in Hawaii:

• About 20 percent of Hawaii’s population is affected by Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD).
• Over 156,000 already have it with another 100,000 predisposed to contract it.
• Hawaii has the highest rate of CKD in the nation per capita (1 person in 7 versus 1 in 9 across the country).
• About 2,500 Hawaii patients are in Stage 4 or 5, undergoing dialysis treatments three to four times per week for the rest of their lives or waiting for a kidney transplant. Of the five stages, Stage 1 concerns minor abnormalities, while stage 5 concerns severe kidney failure.