The first “Kidney Health Fair on the Hill” kicks off at noon in the foyer of the Rayburn House Office Building with education about risk factors, free health screenings, kidney-healthy snacks and fun activities. The event is open to the public.
Kidney disease affects as many as 31 million Americans, most of whom are not even aware they have it, and chronic kidney disease is the nation’s ninth leading cause of death.
“The members of the Congressional Kidney Caucus are natural partners for the American Kidney Fund in our efforts to spotlight kidney health and the importance of disease prevention and early detection,” said LaVarne A. Burton, AKF president and CEO. “We share a common goal of reducing the incidence of chronic kidney disease, and this first annual Kidney Health Fair on the Hill will help us get the word out that in many cases, kidney disease can be prevented.”
A brief program at 1 p.m. will feature Burton; kidney patient-advocate and Annapolis, Md., radio personality Olivia Fox; Rep. Jim McDermott (D-WA), co-founder of the Congressional Kidney Caucus; and Rep. Sheila Jackson-Lee (D-TX), who is also a member of the Congressional Black Caucus.
The bipartisan Congressional Kidney Caucus was founded by Reps. Jim McDermott and Mark Kirk (R-IL) in March 2002. The purpose of the caucus is to educate members of Congress and the public about the problem kidney disease poses for our society and to educate members of Congress and the public about the federal government's singular role in providing access to life-sustaining treatment for those Americans with the severest form of chronic kidney disease (CKD), stage 5 CKD.
