Kathmandu, March 28:

The National Kidney Centre of the Health Care Foundation (HECAF-Nepal) is organising a host of programmes to mark the kidney week from April 1 to 9, the HECAF said in a press release today.

The centre will organise a concert on April 7 to raise funds for patients with kidney diseases, the HECAF said in a press release today.

The HECAF-Nepal is organising the event “Music For Life” together with a renowned singer, Ani Choying Dolma, the press release said.

“People can have kidney screening on April 4, can donate blood on April 5 and watch the concert on April 7,” the release said.

The musical event coincides with the 10th anniversary of the HECAF-Nepal.

“Diabetes, hypertension, overdose of analgesic and urine infection are the four main causes of chronic kidney diseases,” the press release quoted Dr Rishi Kumar Kafle, executive director of the HECAF.

“Kidney failure claims one of the highest numbers of lives globally,” the release said, adding, “There are only two ways to treat kidney failure — dialysis and transplantation.”

“Kidney transplantation costs Rs 0.7 million,” the release said, adding that the service is not available in Nepal. Dialysis therapy is a life-long process and costs Rs 245,000 yearly, which is beyond the reach of the poor.”

According to the HECAF, 2.6 million people in Nepal suffer from kidney-related illnesses. Over 10,000 people have End Stage Renal Failure (ESRF), which means complete failure of both kidneys. “Twenty-five hundred to 3,000 ESRF cases are being reported every year,” the release added.