Kidney Disease Awareness and Education Week

WHEREAS, there are more than 400,000 Americans who have irreversible kidney failure; and

WHEREAS, the only treatment for end stage renal disease (ESRD) is dialysis or kidney transplantation; however, transplantation is limited due to the shortage of donors, and the majority of patients undergo regular dialysis treatments; and

WHEREAS, there are more than eight million Americans who suffer from diabetes, and approximately 50 million Americans have hypertension, and they are all at risk of developing chronic kidney disease (CKD); and

WHEREAS, according to the American Nephrology Nurses’ Association, there are 7,818 people in Alabama who suffer from ESRD, with hypertension and diabetes being the leading causes; and

WHEREAS, nephrology nurses play a key role in providing kidney disease patients with dialysis and related treatments:

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Robert Bentley, Governor of Alabama, do hereby proclaim the week of August 5 through August 11, 2013, as

Kidney Disease Awareness and Education Week

in the state of Alabama.