Tampa, Fla, March 26, 2008 – In recognition of National Kidney Month, the American Association of Kidney Patients (AAKP) announced it is teaming up with Baxter Healthcare to promote the Take 2 Tell 5 campaign. The Take 2 Tell 5 campaign targets African Americans with kidney disease and those at risk of developing kidney failure, to take two minutes to get tested for the disease and tell five friends and loved ones to also get tested.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is when one suffers from gradual and usually permanent loss of kidney function over time. An estimated 26 million Americans suffer from kidney disease. The disease affects African Americans at a disproportionate rate. About 33 percent of all patients treated for kidney failure in the U.S are African American and Africans Americans only account for 13 percent of the U.S. population. Africans Americans also have the highest number of diabetes and hypertension cases, the leading two causes of kidney disease. Research by the National Institute of Health shows 13 percent of the African American community, over the age of 20, has diabetes.

“Unfortunately, kidney disease has no symptoms and most people don’t know they have it until its progress to its late stages,” stated Dr. Keith Norris, a nephrologist with Charles Drew University of Medicine and Science, and AAKP Medical Advisory Board Member. “It is vital kidney education takes place in community centers, churches and barber shops, locations Africans Americans usually have intimate conversations.”

Simple, inexpensive blood and urine tests can detect kidney problems at an early stage. However, many patients with advanced CKD rarely receive education that could slow down their disease progression and assist them in preventing complications and, if needed, prepare for renal replacement services such as dialysis or transplantation.

“It has been proven that prevention measures work,” said Bruce McGillivray, president, Baxter’s Renal business. “So in addition to working together on campaigns such as Take 2 Tell 5 to promote early detection, we also need to continue to work with our leaders in government to support patient education services and education for pre-dialysis patients.”

Targeted cities include Atlanta, Ga., Baltimore, Md., Washington, D.C., Cincinnati, Ohio, Cleveland, Ohio and New York City. Anyone who would like to learn more about kidney disease and its related complications can visit www.aakp.org/Take2Tell5. Posters of the Take 2 Tell 5 campaign can also be downloaded from the Web site.

“African Americans are four-times more likely to develop chronic kidney disease than the general public. Education is key to possibly preventing and slowing the progression of the disease,” said AAKP President Roberta Wager, RN, MSN. “We are proud to be teaming up with Baxter to educate those most affected by kidney disease.”

For more information about Take 2 Tell 5, call (800) 749-AAKP.

                                                                                        # # #

AAKP is the voluntary, patient organization, which for more than 35 years, has been dedicated to improving the lives of fellow kidney patients and their families by helping them deal with the physical, emotional and social impact of kidney disease. The programs offered by AAKP inform and inspire patients and their families to better understand their condition, adjust more readily to their circumstances, and assume more normal, productive lives in their communities.