Kidney Health Australia Life
In this issue
Warning on Web Health Information
KEY Program Great Success
Kidney Kar Rally
Golfers Tee Off for Kidney Disease
Collecting Clothing for Kidneys
Quick Links
Join Our List
Join Our Mailing List

 

Anne Wilson
CEO  
Kidney Health Australia
 

Warning on Web Health Information

 

When you go onto the web to look for medical information make sure you get proper professional advice from your GP or specialist to avoid unproven health information.

Kidney Health Australia has released a fact sheet the "Using the Internet to Research Health Information" on the organization's own website is aimed at protecting people seeking medical advice. 

Many people who are suffering a chronic disease are vulnerable and if given the wrong information can make decisions which can influence their health says KHA CEO Anne Wilson as there are no rules controlling the quality of health information that appears on websites.

Kidney Health Australia says alarm bells should ring viewing a site that has the following qualities:

* Does the site only use case histories or personal testimonies as proof?
 
* Does the site only use one study as proof?
 
*  Is the treatment based on a secret formula?
 
*  Does the treatment claim to work on everyone with that condition?
 
* Does the treatment claim to work immediately and permanently with no further medical intervention required?
 
*  Is the treatment available only from one source? - Eg. over the internet.
 
*  Does the site claim that information about their treatment is being covered up or unfairly attacked by medical professionals?
 
* Does the site claim to have a cure for a condition?
 
* Does the site promote self-diagnosis and self prescription?

 

 KHA says consumers need to ask three basic questions:  Who runs the website and are they credible? Who pays for the website?  Is the material evidence based or focused on selling products?

A full fact sheet is available  from www.kidney.org.au under the patient information section Click Here To Download 
8 February 2008                                 


 

World Kidney Day is Thursday 13 March 2008 and this year will promote the theme of Amazing Kidneys.  Our kidneys filter 200 litres of blood daily and 73,000 litres annually - twice the amount of water it takes to fill the average backyard swimming pool.  

 

KEY Program Great Success 

 

Townsville has taken its place in history as the first location in Australia to undertake a screening program for Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD).

Kidney Health Australia with the support of the Federal Government and BHP Billiton launched KEY - 'Kidney Evaluation for You', an early detection program to evaluate kidney function, cardiovascular health and diabetes in high risk individuals.

 KEY a free program took place on 4th, 5th, 7th, and 8th of February at North Ward Health Campus in Townsville and was booked out within twenty four hours.  

Anne Wilson CEO of Kidney Health Australia said, "Until now a primary health care program for chronic kidney disease (CKD) detection has not existed in Australia and the program in Townsville was a significant signpost for the future evaluation and detection of Kidney disease."

Dr Tim Mathew Medical Director of Kidney Health Australia who visited Townsville for the program said, "A KEY program is vital in Australia to reduce the burden of kidney disease and kidney failure and the Townsville program could be the start of one of the most important and effective primary care programs to manage CKD in Australia."

 

 

 Kidney Kar Rally Celebrates 20th Birthday  

 

Teams' garages around Australia in the Kidney Kar Rally have already become active with forty one cars being prepared for the Rally.

The Kidney Kar Rally will travel from Sydney to Mudgee via Mildura in 2008 - spreading the word about organ donation and kidney health in regional areas.

It will be held between 15-23 August 2008 and it will be our 20th year!

Register soon to be part of the Kidney Kar Rally 2008 - download the official 2008 KKR Entry Form  and post this with your Registration Fee of $250 to:

'Kidney Kar Rally 2008'
PO Box 873, Bathurst, NSW 2795

2007 Kidney Kar Rally teams at Birdsville.

Golfers Tee Off for Kidney Disease

Kidney Health Australia has nominated GOLF as one of the more productive and enjoyable ways of people being able to keep their kidneys healthy and recently held its annual golf day to promote its healthy life style strategy at Kingston Heath Golf Club in Melbourne.

CEO of Kidney Health Australia Anne Wilson said, "Golf combined a range of exercises and the opportunity for a seven to eight kilometre walk played a major role in keeping Australians healthy.

"With over two million Australians actively playing golf there is significant benefit to the health budgets of Australia especially in the areas of chronic disease.

"Not only is golf good physically, it also exposes golfers to peaceful natural surroundings and contributes to the mental well being of people."

PGA of Australia CEO, Max Garske endorsed Kidney Health Australia's message and said "Golf is a game for life with many health benefits and we encourage all Australians to engage in a healthy lifestyle by taking to the fairways."

Golfers at Kingston Heath Golf Club for Kidney Health Australia

Collecting Clothing for Kidneys

 

Kidney Health Australia has joined in partnership with FM Recycling Pty Ltd., one of the largest organizations of its kind in Australia, to raise funds for kidney health through the collection of donated clothing.

Commencing in Victoria, Kidney Health Australia clothing bins so far have been distributed state-wide in 70 metropolitan and regional locations, including Shepparton, Albury, Bendigo, Kyabram, Benalla and Wodonga.

Kidney Health Australia will receive a percentage of profits from clothing placed in charity bins branded with Kidney Health Australia logo.

The project provides an excellent opportunity for the community to help fight kidney disease, simply by placing any unwanted clothing in a 'Kidney Bin'.

Additional charity bin sites are presently being sourced throughout the state in a variety of locations.  If you have a suitable location for placement of a bin, and would like to learn more about our new initiative, please call (03) 9674 4300. Your support will assist Kidney Health Australia to carry out its vital work.