November 2005
ISN pioneering timely prevention of chronic kidney disease in Latin America
Prevention Strategies for Chronic Kidney Disease in Latin America: A Strategy for the Next Decade.
Park Lake Hotel, Villarica, Chile, November 21-23, 2005.
Brussels, Belgium, November 18, 2005 - In Mexico and Chile 24% of the population suffer from obesity, and diabetes is spinning out of control throughout Latin America. A simple comparison between per capita annual direct costs of the disease and per capita annual health expenditure reveals that the cost of diabetes outweighs average expenditure by far within the region. While cardiovascular disease is becoming recognized as a "hot spot" for prevention since it is currently the most common of all non-communicable diseases, other related diseases need to share equal prevention attention.
Kidney disease is directly responsible for over one million deaths a year worldwide. It also contributes towards morbidity from cardiovascular disease in over 12 million individuals - and the numbers are steeply rising. If it continues its path unchecked Latin American countries could be on the brink of a global health catastrophe.
The International Society of Nephrology (ISN) is dedicated to leading global prevention through heightening public awareness and appealing to the scientific community, thought leaders, as well as national health officials, to build timely prevention efforts in order to avoid the pending world health crisis.
Over the course of three days, recognized experts from 31 Latin American countries will gather to report and deliberate on both present and future implications, define the role that the national Health Systems need to immediately adopt, and analyze the impact of the most menacing of kidney related diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity, and end stage renal disease.
From November 21-23, 2005, the ISN will lead a strategic Summit meeting that will signpost the future directions of prevention in order to avoid this emergency striking Latin America:
Prevention Strategies for Chronic Kidney Disease in Latin America: A Strategy for the Next Decade, Park Lake Hotel, Villarica, Chile, November 21-23, 2005.
Program highlights:
The Role of the National Health Systems in the Implementation of Prevention Programs
Maria Cristina Escobar, Ministry of Health, Chile
Participation of Family Doctors in Prevention Programs
Riccardo-Correa Rotter, Mexico
Chronic Diseases in Latin America
Alberto Barcelo, Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)
For more information please contact:
Dr. Sergio Mezzano, Unidad de Nefrolog�a, UACh, Tel.:+56 9 8874503
Amanda Wren, International Society of Nephrology, Tel: +32 2 743 1546, [email protected]
The International Society of Nephrology (ISN) is a not-for-profit society whose mission is the global advancement of nephrology. ISN promotes research and education to prevent and treat kidney disease throughout the world. Further information is available at www.isn-online.org or by calling +32-2-743 1546.