Daviess County Circuit Court Clerk Jennifer Besecker is emphasizing the health of community members by observing March as National Kidney Month.
Chronic kidney disease causes more deaths than breast cancer or prostate cancer each year in the U.S., where it affects an estimated 37 million people according to the National Kidney Foundation. Approximately 33 percent of adults in the U.S. are at risk for kidney disease.
Throughout the course of the pandemic, it has been proven that COVID-19 damages the kidneys of otherwise healthy patients. People with kidney disease, transplant recipients, and people with other severe chronic medical conditions are at higher risk for developing serious complications from COVID-19.
According to Besecker, more than 700 people are waiting on a life-saving kidney transplant due to chronic kidney failure. She said taking preventative measures to prevent unnecessary complications is necessary.
“One in every three Daviess Countians are at risk for kidney disease,” Besecker said. “High blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, and obesity increase risk of end-stage renal disease. We must take care of our kidney health and others’ by registering as an organ donor.”
According to Donate Life America, more than 100,000 people are waiting for a lifesaving organ transplant, and another person is added to the waiting list every 10 minutes. According to Donate Life, 20 people die each day because the organ they need is not donated in time.
People can join the Kentucky Organ Donor Registry in one of the following ways:
- Online 24/7 at RegisterMe.org
- On an iPhone by going to the Health app and toggling to “organ donor.”
- During a driver’s license renewal at the Circuit Clerks’ office or KYTC office
