Peterborough Volunteers Sought to Become Kidney Health Educators

A charity is seeking volunteers from East European and South Asian backgrounds to raise awareness of kidney disease within their communities.

Kidney Research UK estimates that over 18,000 people in Peterborough are living with kidney disease.

The charity aims to recruit more "peer educators" who will receive training to help others understand the risks and take steps to protect their kidney health.

"Kidney disease is often a silent condition because many people are unaware they have it until their kidneys are seriously damaged," said Katarzyna Budzinska, peer educator manager at Kidney Research UK.

"Peer educators can help break down barriers, share trusted information, and encourage people to look after their kidney health," Budzinska added.

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

A charity spokesperson explained, "It's not yet fully understood why minority ethnic groups are more at risk of kidney disease, but it may be partly due to higher rates of diabetes and high blood pressure in these communities, which are the most common causes of kidney failure."

"For example, around twice as many Asian people with type 1 diabetes require dialysis or a transplant compared to white patients, indicating a higher incidence of kidney failure."

"Religious beliefs, cultural differences, language barriers, and mistrust may also hinder discussions about medical conditions, treatment options, and available care."

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

It is hoped that this project will serve as a pilot for similar schemes across the UK.