When W.G. (Bill) Hefner VA Medical Center employees get together for a special occasion, they really get together.
On Thursday, employees met outside at lunchtime and linked arms to form a human chain in observance of World Kidney Day.
Other activities at the Salisbury VA Medical Center and hospitals throughout the Veterans Health Administration on Wednesday included displays describing the role kidneys play in the body; brochures encouraging patients to discuss kidney health and risk factors with their doctors; and encouragement of patients with diabetes, hypertension and heart disease to be screened by their primary care doctors for kidney problems.
Later in the month, the VA will host a lecture for primary care doctors on their role in Chronic Kidney Disease care and management.
Twenty-six million Americans — including one in nine adults — have Chronic Kidney Disease and millions of others are at increased risk, according to the National Kidney Foundation.