NAGBABALA si Sen. Raffy Tulfo na hindi na lang sakit ng senior citizens ang chronic kidney disease dahil mas marami na umanong working-age Filipinos at maging mga batang apat na taong gulang ang tinatamaan nito.

Itinulak ni Tulfo ang libreng kidney screening sa mga barangay at mas malinaw na nutrition rating labels sa mga nakabalot na pagkain at inumin, kasabay ng panawagan para sa maagang pagtukoy sa sakit at mas maayos na impormasyon para sa consumers.

Sinabi ni Tulfo na nasa 11.2 percent, o tinatayang 13 milyong Pilipino, ang na-diagnose na may iba’t-ibang yugto ng chronic kidney disease.

“According to the Philippine Society of Nephrology, every hour, a Filipino develops chronic renal failure. And while this disease used to be limited to senior citizens, 57.44 percent of kidney disease patients are now between 20 and 59 years old.

“CKD patients are getting younger and younger. Hospitals across the country are reporting new cases among children and teenagers, some as young as four years old, who are already grappling with the realities of kidney failure. In fact, I have come face to face with these young CKD patients,” sabi ng senador.

Maaaring may kaugnayan sa unhealthy lifestyle choices ang pagdami ng CKD cases, lalo na ang madalas na pagkain at pag-inom ng instant at processed food and beverages na nakadaragdag sa obesity, hypertension at diabetes.

Batay sa Department of Health at Philippine Renal Disease Registry, sinabi ni Tulfo na uncontrolled diabetes at hypertension ang dalawang pangunahing sanhi ng CKD sa bansa.

“According to the Department of Health and the Philippine Renal Disease Registry, there are two primary causes of CKD in the Philippines. The first is uncontrolled diabetes.

High blood sugar levels can damage your kidneys’ filters. Over time, your kidneys can become so damaged that they no longer effectively filter waste and excess fluid from the blood.

“The second is hypertension. High blood pressure can damage blood vessels and other parts of the kidneys’ filtering system. When these parts are damaged, the kidneys may no longer efficiently remove waste and excess fluid from the body.

The buildup of extra fluid can further increase blood pressure, creating a dangerous cycle,” paliwanag niya.

Hinimok ni Tulfo ang Senado na aksyunan ang mga panukalang magpapalawak ng access sa kidney care, kabilang ang diagnostic procedures tulad ng Urine Albumin-to-Creatinine Ratio test.

Hindi pa naaabot ng maraming pasyente at hindi kasalukuyang sakop ng Philippine Health Insurance Corporation ang naturang test.

Tinukoy niya ang Senate Bill No. 2123 (Accessible Kidney Care Act) na kanyang inihain upang magbigay ng libreng kidney health screening sa Barangay Health Centers at Super Health Centers.

Binanggit din ni Tulfo ang Senate Bill No. 1668, o Health Rating Label Act, na naglalayong lumikha ng nutrition rating system para sa packaged food and beverage products.

Sa ilalim ng panukala, bibigyan ng rating ang mga produkto mula isa, bilang least nutritious, hanggang lima, bilang most nutritious, batay sa calorie, saturated fat, sodium, sugar at fiber content.