News

World Kidney Day Press Conference 2021, organized by PERNEFRI

As part of ISN’s current focus on Collective-Member Societies in the ISN Oceania and South East Asia region, we spoke to the President of the Indonesian Society of Nephrology (InaSN, known locally as Perhimpunan Nefrologi Indonesia: PERNEFRI), Dr. Aida Lydia Sutranto, about celebrating World Kidney Day (WKD) under pandemic conditions.

According to Sutranto, WKD is a pivotal moment in the year for PERNEFRI to educate patients, families, caregivers, health practitioners, and the public on kidney health issues. The organization generated activities to cultivate awareness of kidney disease prevention and detection and encouraged chronic kidney disease patients to improve their quality of life through better disease management.

PERNEFRI organized a World Kidney Day Press Conference, inviting stakeholders to discuss the current kidney health situation and management in Indonesia. The Ministry of Health, National Health Insurance BPJS Kesehatan, the Indonesian Society of Dialysis Nurses, and the National Kidney Foundation were all present to discuss the challenges of providing kidney care and promoting increased life satisfaction for CKD patients.

Before the pandemic era, interactive seminars in schools, campuses, and offices would mark the occasion, providing kidney health information and simple onsite health screening facilities. This year, WKD activities migrated online and focused on media involvement, with talks and interviews broadcast on television, radio and appearing in local and national newspapers.

PERNEFRI also created an educational video challenge on kidney health and used live Instagram sessions (@pbepernefri and @swarapernefri) and their YouTube channel (PB PERNEFRI) to promote this content alongside WKD seminars.

Sutranto acknowledged, “Indeed, the COVID-19 pandemic has brought increased challenges and difficulties in providing kidney care. However, we are doing our best to tackle these problems.”