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AAKP ENGAGES AMERICA AND CONGRESS DURING NATIONAL KIDNEY MONTH

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
February 27, 2018

MORE Information:
Deborah Pelaez
(800) 749-AAKP / dpelaez@aakp.org

AAKP ENGAGES AMERICA AND CONGRESS DURING NATIONAL KIDNEY MONTH

Tampa, FL – March is the month when Americans and the U.S. Congress are asked to focus on kidney disease, a disease that impacts 40 million people, with an additional 680,000 suffering from kidney failure. The American Association of Kidney Patients is raising its voice against a silent killer throughout March. Founded in 1969, AAKP is the largest, fully independent kidney patient education and advocacy organization in the United States and has been preparing for National Kidney Month for over a year.

For March 2018, AAKP will be activating its patient and caregiver volunteers; engaging the public and elected leaders on Capitol Hill; and taking action to shine a spotlight on the profound personal and financial impacts kidney disease has on the daily lives of fellow Americans and their families. Through the AAKP Center for Patient Engagement and Advocacy and the AAKP Center for Patient Education and Research; tens of thousands of Americans will be encouraged to raise their voices in support of those who suffer and for innovations to help extend life and empower patients to pursue their aspirations – including careers and jobs.

“Kidney disease impacts over 40 million Americans according to a 2017 Government Accountability Office report, a fact which underscores that this disease is both a healthcare and workforce issue that impacts patients and taxpayers directly and indirectly” stated Paul T. Conway, president of AAKP and a former chief of staff for the U.S. Department of Labor.

In March, AAKP will highlight many of its national educational and advocacy programs and encourages the renal community to join our efforts by participating in Association activities all month long:

  • AAKP Raise Your Voice Campaign aimed at increasing AAKP social media followers by thousands in recognition of Kidney Disease Month 2018; JOIN TODAY at facebook.com/kidneypatient; www.twitter.com/KidneyPatients and www.instagram.com/kidneypatients;
  • AAKP Countdowns to World Kidney Day March 8thaakp.org/world-kidney-day;
  • Special Edition FREE AAKP HealthLine webinar focused on Kidneys & Women’s Health – March 22, aakp.org/aakp-healthline or for more information call (800) 749-2257.
  • Kidneys on Capitol Hill – Congressional Days with AAKP Leaders and Ambassadors united with over 100 kidney patients from across America on March 5, 6 and 28. Three targeted days of both in-person meetings and online activity aimed at educating Congress, AAKP will join allied organizations including the American Society of Nephrology (ASN) and the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) to bring AAKP’s independent perspectives to the table to discuss legislation impacting kidney care – GET INVOLVED – visit aakp.org/fellow-patients.
  • AAKP National Speakers Bureau AAKP Board Members and Ambassadors will be available to organizations interested in learning more about kidney disease, dialysis, transplantation and Congressional advocacy. To learn more about nationally recognized and award-winning AAKP speakers in your area, contact Erin Kahle, Director of Stakeholder Operations at ekahle@aakp.org .

For more information about AAKP’s educational and advocacy programs, visit www.aakp.org or join today as a FREE member at www.aakp.org/join. To support AAKP, make a tax deductible donation at www.aakp.org or call (800) 749-2257.

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Governed by a patient-majority Board of Directors, AAKP conducts national education programs designed to better inform kidney patients, care-givers and policy-makers about the true impacts of kidney disease, prevention efforts and treatment methods. AAKP executes a national advocacy strategy in conjunction with allied kidney organizations designed to insert the patient voice into proposed policies, research efforts and care deliberations before the Executive Branch and the U.S. Congress.  Visit our website at www.aakp.org .

Follow AAKP on social media at:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kidneypatient

Twitter and Instagram: @kidneypatients