The International Federation of Kidney Foundations leads the way in the prevention and treatment of kidney disease, through its Membership on all continents around the world.
All about the IFKF
The Federation was formed to foster international collaboration and the exchange of ideas that will improve the health, well-being and quality of life of individuals with kidney disease. We hope to achieve this by advocating for improved health care delivery as well as adopting and disseminating standards of best practice of treatment and care. We facilitate education programs for member organisations, promote research, communicate with other organisations and exchange ideas, particularly those concerning fund raising. See about the work of the IFKF
The IFKF helps facilitate the establishment of more kidney foundations and to help existing foundations become more dynamic and effective. Worldwide, most individuals with chronic kidney disease or hypertension are not diagnosed until long after the illness has developed. Moreover, when they are diagnosed they are too often treated sub-optimally or not at all. In many parts of the world, once end stage kidney failure occurs, patients do not have access to dialysis or kidney transplantation.
IFKF members join together with ISN members and kidney patient associations, to celebrate World Kidney Day annually in March, to influence general physicians, primary healthcare providers, health officials and policymakers and to educate high risk patients and individuals.
Annual International Meetings
Members attending our annual IFKF Meetings have highlighted the benefits of early detection and prevention programs, successfully operating in Australia, Europe, Japan, Sth America, New Zealand and USA. Prevention programs like this are particularly cost effective in large populations and remote regional areas. This simple proven tool identifies and educates those with early chronic kidney disease (CKD). Health professionals are able to provide corrective treatment before these risk factors have a chance to develop into chronic kidney disease. The relentless progression to kidney failure can be slowed or reduced by between 20-50% in most cases.
History and background
During the American Society of Nephrology and National Kidney Foundation Meetings in Philadelphia 1998, Joel Kopple MD (pictured right), then President of the National Kidney Foundation USA, invited representatives of kidney foundations from around the world to attend discussion groups to “explore whether there was a role for an international umbrella organisation, and what form such an organisation would take”. The IFKF was subsequently established in 1999, and IFKF International Meetings and health professional Workshops have been held.
Our future
The number of IFKF international kidney foundations, patient organisations and kidney related groups - our family - has grown from 19 in 2001 when first established. Our IFKF team is a strong force to bring a global focus to the prevention and treatment of kidney disease - its Council of Governors now lists 66 Members, representing 42 country areas globally. This large group represents a strong force to ensure a global focus continues in the prevention and treatment of kidney disease.
Sponsorship
Whilst this is most gratifying the IFKF must establish a professional Secretariat to handle this growth and offer more leadership services to all members. The IFKF Secretariat currently operates with the assistance of voluntary staff. The IFKF Executive welcome offers of Sponsorship funding and financial donations to assist us to carry out our important mission.
How can you help?
It is the energy of people like you that is helping to focus the world on the issues surrounding kidney disease. The IFKF is a not for profit organisation staffed only by volunteers. To help us fulfill our mission, financial contributions to support the very important work of the IFKF are always welcome.