ABOUT THE IFKF
About the IFKF
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.
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 educational programs for member organisations, promote research, communicate with other organisations and exchange ideas, particularly those concerning fund raising.
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.
Members attending our annual IFKF Meetings have highlighted the benefits of early detection and prevention programs, successfully operating in Australia, Europe, Japan, South America, New Zealand and United States. 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 D Kopple MD, then President of the NKF, 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 Conferences and Workshops have been held annually.
To ensure the IFKF achieves its goals, amendments have been made to IFKF By Laws since incorporation on these dates:
Friday 8 September 2000 - Nevsehir, Turkey
Sunday 5 May 2002 - Los Angeles, California USA
Monday 30 August 2004 - Adelaide, Sth Australia
Friday 6 June 2006 - Giardini Naxos, Sicily
Thursday 19 April 2007 - Curitiba, Brazil
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, to
63 Council Members, representing 41 different countries
from all continents. 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 to join us as an organisational member
We would like to hear from anyone representing any organisation, patient association, kidney foundation or group, interested in joining the IFKF as an Organisational Council Member.
To apply, the nominating individual must submit a formal application on behalf of the organisation, addressed to "Chair, IFKF Membership Committee". To start the application process, complete the official IFKF Membership Application Form (download here), providing all inform ation requested including a formal resolution from your Board or Committee (English is the , with a written application letter on official letterhead, and submit this by email or fax to:
Mr Warwick Prime
c/- IFKF Global Headquarters
GPO Box 9993
Adelaide SA 5001 Australia
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Phone +61 8 8334 7509
Fax +61 8 8334 7540
teresa.taylor@kidney.org.au |
On receipt of this form, submitted with a copy of a formal resolution from the applicant's Board or Committee, your organisation will be considered for IFKF membership. On approval by the Board, and subsequent payment of applicable subscription dues (set at the time of approval), the organisation will be admitted to the IFKF Register and invited to nominate an official representative.
- About the work of the IFKF - Corporate Brochure
- Membership fees are for one calendar year - renewed annually on 1 January
- Should an IFKF Member default on fee payment, it may be removed from the IFKF Register unless good cause is shown
(Fees payable in $US – Individually set upon acceptance, relative to the organisation's financial status)
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 organistion staffed only by volunteers. To help us fulfil our mission, financial contributions to support the very important work of the IFKF, are always welcome. IFKF Financial Donation Form (download here)
Payment via a bank draft or telegraphic transfer in US dollars payable to ‘The International Federation of Kidney Foundations’
NOTE: If using telegraphic bank transfer
- quote SWIFT code for NAB: NATAAU3303M
Account number: INKIDUSDO1
Trade Solutions Servicing VIC (International Service Centre)
Level 5, 383 King Street, West Melbourne Victoria Australia
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