Volunteers needed to be kidney 'peer educators'

2 hours ago

Katy Prickett

News image — Peterborough Mayor Judy Fox (centre) and Dr Damilola Akinsulire, the city council's interim consultant in public health, with Kidney Research UK staff and volunteers

Kidney Research UK A group of eight women and one man standing in Queensgate Shopping Centre beside a sign that says Let's walk all over kidney disease. Six of the women and the man are wearing purple Kidney Research UK hoodies. The seventh woman who is in the middle of the group, is wearing a mayoral chain over her black jacket. The eighth woman, second on the left, is wearing a black coat over a grey top. — Peterborough Mayor Judy Fox (centre) and Dr Damilola Akinsulire, the city council's interim consultant in public health, with Kidney Research UK staff and volunteers

A charity is looking for volunteers with East European and South Asian backgrounds to raise awareness of kidney disease in their communities.

Kidney Research UK said more than 18,000 people are estimated to be living with the illness in Peterborough.

It wants to recruit more "peer educators", who will receive training to enable them to help people understand the risks and take steps to protect their kidneys.

The disease is a "silent condition, because many people don't know they have it until their kidneys are seriously damaged", said the charity's Katarzyna Budzinska.

"Peer educators can help break down barriers, share trusted information and encourage people to look after their kidney health," added Budzinska, peer educator manager at Kidney Research UK.

"Current data tells us people from Eastern European and South Asian communities in Peterborough are particularly at risk."

Kidney Disease UK A stall in Queensgate Shopping Centre which is covered in pink fabric and has piles of leaflets fanned out on its top. A woman in a purple hoody saying Kidney Research UK is leaning across the table to another couple of women, facing her in purple hoodies which say on their backs kidney disease ends here. — The charity had a stand in the city's Queensgate Shopping Centre on Friday, encouraging residents to get involved

A charity spokesperson said: "It's not yet fully understood why minority ethnic groups are more at risk of kidney disease, but it could be due in part to high rates of diabetes and high blood pressure in these groups, as these are the most common causes of kidney failure.

"For example, it is known that around twice as many Asian people with type 1 diabetes need dialysis or a transplant (therefore experience kidney failure) compared to white patients.

"Religious beliefs, cultural differences, language and mistrust may also be barriers to discussions surrounding medical conditions, treatment choices, and available care."

Added to this, its 2024 Time To Act report highlighted the impact of health inequalities on adults living in areas of high deprivation.

The initiative is part of the city-based charity's Peterborough Project, supported by the Cambs & Peterborough Combined Authority and Peterborough City Council.

It is hoped the project might serve as a pilot for similar schemes across the UK.

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