Renal diseases are one of the biggest killers of children below thirteen in Bhutan. 

As our health system continues to progress, these health problems should not be very difficult address.

Although there are many causes that lead to renal diseases among children, one is pretty obvious and we can do a lot to keep them under control. 

Genetic transmission is one major problem in Bhutan. Many genetically transmittable diseases, however, can be righted with spot-on health interventions.

There may be certain health issues that need heavy investment but non-communicable diseases (NCD) are on the rise in the country. NCDs are also a significant contributor to renal diseases among children.

Medical sciences tell us that genetic diseases cannot be prevented, but there are medicines that can help to treat and manage certain ones. There is so an opportunity to change lifestyle habits of our people so that the diseases that they acquire do not become a burden of the future generations.

NCDs are already one of the major public health issues in the country today. Lack of nutrition could have been a problem in the country at one point of time. Today, however, the real problem is not lack of nutrition but overnutrition.

Bhutan can and must effectively and strategically guide policymakers and stakeholders to further promote the health and well-being of adolescents in Bhutan. That is from where we must begin. Strengthen the policies and programmes to control tobacco, alcohol, and doma, for example. But that’s not enough. Bhutanese food habits are medically very dangerous.

NCDs are estimated to account for almost 70 percent of all deaths in Bhutan making it the leading cause of all preventable deaths. These are serious challenges facing the nation’s health system today, yes, but the problems are not intractable.

Investment in education and advocacy has been there but we could do a lot more. Renal diseases among the children below thirteen in Bhutan will continue to be a problem otherwise.

We must invest in other modern health measures, treatment methods and technology. Addressing renal diseases among Bhutanese children is a generation issue. 

Getting is right with one will take care of the future.

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