American Kidney Fund Offers Toll-Free Help Line to Spanish-Speaking Callers in Time for National Kidney Month

2/26/2004

From: Sandra Palmer of the American Kidney Fund, 301-984-6657

ROCKVILLE, Md., Feb. 26 -- The American Kidney Fund announced its new, toll-free Help Line for Spanish speaking callers who need information about chronic kidney disease (CKD). March is National Kidney Month, and launching the new service reflects the Fund's expanded efforts to address the alarming growth in the incidence of kidney disease in the U.S.

American Kidney Fund Executive Director Karen Sendelback said, "Hispanic Americans have nearly twice the risk of kidney disease as non-Hispanic Caucasians. In fact, one out of every eight people with kidney failure in the U.S. is Hispanic. There is no cure for kidney failure; the only treatments are kidney dialysis and kidney transplantation."

The Fund is helping to address the high incidence of CKD among Hispanic Americans by raising awareness of the disease, and by targeting those at risk through its Minority Intervention and Kidney Education (MIKE) program. The Spanish Help Line (866.300.2900) will support the larger initiatives by providing information about the prevention and treatment of kidney disease to Spanish speaking callers.

Overall, about 20 million people in the U.S. have impaired kidney function, and more than 400,000 have end stage renal disease (kidney failure). The American Kidney Fund's general toll-free Help Line (800-638-8299) has been providing callers with valuable information about kidney disease for more than a decade.

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The American Kidney Fund is the nation's leading voluntary health organization serving people with and at risk for kidney disease through direct financial assistance, comprehensive education, clinical research and community service programs.