Mangaluru: On the occasion of world kidney day, a massive kidney patients' convention organised by kidney patients association was held at town hall here on March 10.

Deputy commissioner AB Ibrahim inaugurated the convention and said "I congratulate the organizers of this convention. Unitedly we can find solution to any problem. This district is advanced in the medical field with many number of hospitals and medical colleges. This can help in treatment. But there is a need to prevent the diseases. Our food habits are the main reasons for most of the diseases. This is a negative development. We all should make positive efforts in preventing such diseases. There is also a need to create awareness among the general public."

Chairman of Karavali institute of technology, Ganesh Rao stressed on the need of healthy food practices and said "Today we have been consuming unhealthy food which bring various diseases. There is no exercise for the body in any form. We have been addicted to comfortable lifestyle. Efforts have to be taken to prevent diseases. Regular checkups, healthy food consumption and adequate exercise should be practiced,"

Leading kidney specialist Dr Vivek Pathak said "Kidney failure has attained the attention of general public because of increase in the rate of such cases. There are 2 types of kidney failure, temporary and permanent. Main reason for kidney failure is diabetics and blood pressure. One of the main reasons for diabetics is consumption of carbohydrates, white rice, potatoes and apart from this consumption of adulterated food."

"One should avoid eating of carbohydrate in high quantity. Regular exercise like walking and other healthy practices need to inculcated. In order to prevent urine infections, hygiene needs to maintained. In order to make kidney transplant easier government has to revise the transplantation law. Kidney transplantation within the family members should be made easy. Currently it takes about 2 to 3 months to get the necessary permission to transplant the kidney, even though the donor is immediate family member."

Dr Mohammed Saleem, president of nephro urology charitable trust, S Prasad, president of kidney patients association and others were present at the occasion.