IN line with National Kidney Month, pharmaceutical company Boehringer Ingelheim launched an initiative on Monday aimed at bringing early detection screening to barangay (villages) in Quezon City to combat chronic kidney disease (CKD).
The Iwas Dialysis, Ligtas Kidney (Avoid Dialysis, Safe Kidney) program will bring essential kidney screening closer to underserved areas, particularly in villages, public markets, and malls.
In an interview with The Manila Times, Dr. Greta Cortez, head of medicine of Boehringer Ingelheim, highlighted the importance of scaling up screening initiatives, particularly in hard-to-reach areas.
“The lack of awareness about CKD is a major hurdle because many people don’t realize that conditions like high blood pressure or diabetes can lead to kidney disease,” Cortez said.
“This program bridges that gap by educating communities and providing accessible screenings,” she said.
Dr. Anthony Russell Villanueva, a nephrologist from the National Kidney and Transplant Institute, said CKD is a leading cause of mortality in the country, with diabetes and hypertension being primary contributors.
“We need to act early. Almost 40 percent of Filipinos diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes already have kidney damage during their first consultation,” Villanueva said.
During the launch, Boehringer Ingelheim turned over 7 uACR machines to the city government, which will be distributed to the six districts to ensure that health centers have tools to detect early signs of kidney damage.
The initiative was previously launched in Antipolo City and Taytay, Rizal.
Cortez hopes the project can be replicated in more cities across the country.
“We hope that through screen programs like this, we can reduce the number of patients,” said Cortez.
