Cayman is marking World Kidney Day by offering free health screenings to the public and lectures on kidney health to medical staff.

The Health Services Authority will provide health screenings for blood pressure, blood sugar and weight checks at the entrance of the Cayman Islands Hospital in George Town today [Thursday].

The screenings will be carried out from 10am to 2pm.

The Health Services Authority is working with the Cayman Islands Kidney Foundation, St. Matthew's University, the Cayman Diabetes Association and the Diabetic Support Group, Cayman, to offer the free tests.

World Kidney Day, which is five years old this year, is observed on the second Thursday of March in more than 100 countries. This year’s theme is “Diabetes and the Kidney”.

Later today, internist and nephrologist Dr. Frits Hendriks from the Grand Harbour Medical Centre, who is chairman of the Cayman Islands Kidney Foundation, will deliver a lecture on diabetic nephropathy (kidney disease). Dr. Rosemarie Wright Pascoe, senior lecturer at the Department of Medicine at the University of the West Indies will speak on glucose control, diabetes, and their connection with chronic renal disease.

The lectures will be held from 5.30pm to 8pm and all private and Health Services Authority providers in Cayman are invited. It will be held in the Hibiscus Conference Room and attendees can get Continuing Medical Education credits.

Refreshments will be served at both events.

Recently, Cayman National donated $1,500 to the Cayman Islands Kidney Foundation to help its work in promoting kidney health.

The cheque was accepted by Dr. Hendriks on behalf of the Kidney Foundation from Cayman National Bank’s marketing manager Shari Whittaker.

“Diabetes type 2 is the leading cause of end stage kidney failure worldwide, and dramatically increasing, also in Cayman,” said Dr. Hendriks.

In the United States, a 2007 study showed that nearly a third of the estimated 18 million Americans with type 2 diabetes had chronic kidney disease, and about 20 per cent had diabetic eye disease and foot problems.

Cayman has an estimated 3,220 diabetics. The Health Services Authority has 2,255 registered diabetics, accounting for 70 per cent of diagnosed diabetics. The remaining 30 per cent are treated by private doctors, but health experts say many others may be undiagnosed.