Rationale for an International Federation of Kidney Foundations

Kidney foundations serve a unique role with their focus on the medical, psychosocial, and health needs of the individual with kidney disease and with their community-based structure. The types of activities in which kidney foundations may become involved include, but are not limited to, educational programs for health care workers and for patients and their families; educational, rehabilitative, and financial support programs for patients or their families; advocacy to the government and to other organizations on behalf of the needs of the patient and the patient's family; and fund raising for research or for other kidney-related programs. Most of the world's population is not represented by kidney foundations. Moreover, there are major variations in the programmatic activities of most kidney foundations. The fact that the psychosocial and educational needs of individuals with renal disease and renal failure are often great and the fact that access of individuals with end-stage renal disease to long-term dialysis therapy or renal transplantation varies greatly in different parts of the world provide a strong rationale for the establishment of community-based kidney foundations to advocate for the patient. The International Federation of Kidney Foundations (IFKF), which was formed during the past year, has as its goal fostering international collaboration and exchange of ideas to improve the health, well-being, and quality of life for individuals with kidney disease. The IFKF will promote the establishment of kidney foundations in regions where none currently exist and will encourage the growth in programmatic activities of kidney foundations everywhere. The increasing globalization of the world, growing affluence worldwide, and the willingness of people to engage in charitable giving suggest that this is a most opportune time to launch this international organization.