National Kidney Sundays Event

NKDEP, Health and Faith Partners Collaborate for National Kidney Sundays Event

The Second National Kidney Sunday Event Kicked Off March 3

The National Kidney Disease Education Program (NKDEP), the American Diabetes Association and Chi Eta Phi nursing sorority partnered for the second nationwide Kidney Sundays event on March 3, 2013, in recognition of National Kidney Month.

The national Kidney Sundays event included more than 46 African-American faith communities, with congregations totaling about 47,000 individuals. The faith leaders talked with their congregations about the connection between diabetes, high blood pressure, and kidney disease, and the importance of testing. They also held Kidney Sundays information sessions, distributed materials, and conducted blood pressure screenings.

More than 45 of the congregations across 16 cities coordinated blood pressure screenings with Chi Eta Phi registered nurses on site. These Kidney Sundays participating faith organizations shared several educational materials with faith members, including:

• What African Americans with Diabetes and High Blood Pressure Need to Know
• Make the Kidney Connection Outreach Informational Cards
• Chronic Kidney Disease: What Does it Mean for Me?
• It's Never Too Early to Prevent Diabetes
• More Than 50 Ways to Prevent Diabetes
• Tips to Stay Healthy
• Walking: A Step in the Right Direction

American Diabetes Association representatives also shared information about Diabetes Alert Day with participating congregations.

African Americans make up about 13 percent of the population, but when it comes to kidney failure, they account for 28 percent of new cases. Griffin P. Rodgers, M.D., M.A.C.P., director, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases challenged African-American faith organizations to again have conversations about kidney health.

2013 Kidney Sundays Participating Faith Organizations