How We Save Lives

IPNA reviews the best evidence in Pediatric Nephrology to produce or endorse guidelines, providing guidance on the best practices for diagnosing and managing pediatric kidney diseases.

ABOUT THE IPNA FOUNDATION

The IPNA Foundation was established as the philanthropic arm of the International Pediatric Nephology Association.

IPNA is a global charitable organization managed by an all-volunteer council representing every continent in the world. IPNA operates under the premise that all children deserve to be healthy and receive optimal treatment and care for kidney disease regardless of their economic level or political choice. IPNA collaborates with seven regional pediatric nephrology societies around the world focusing on education and training programs. The Foundation’s mandate is growing these important initiatives with support from individual donors, grants, and sponsorships. Operating under the IPNA charitable designation, contributions are included in the IPNA financial report and efforts are transparent to the membership and the public. Donations support teaching courses, member scholarships, fellowships, Saving Young Lives, and other programs.

Our Mission

The International Pediatric Nephrology Association (IPNA) leads the global effort to successfully address the care for all children with Kidney disease through advocacy, education, and training

Our Vision

Optimal care for all children with kidney disease.

We teach and train

Fellowships

Funding FELLOWSHIPS for pediatricians from developing countries to obtain training in pediatric nephrology. Since 2003, more than 300 fellows have gained extensive, hands-on training in pediatric nephrology at IPNA Training Centers. We need to fund additional fellowships to train more doctors who can accurately diagnose and treat kidney disease in children.

Teaching Courses

Providing TEACHING COURSES around the world, where medical professionals from all levels learn to diagnose and treat kidney issues. An estimated 5,000 healthcare providers have expanded their knowledge by attending an IPNA Teaching Course since 2013. More than 190 IPNA Teaching Courses in 59 countries have been offered to date—all with the common goal of improved diagnosis and treatment of kidney disease in children. With your support, we can have an even greater impact on global healthcare.

Junior working groups and classes

Organizing junior working groups and classes provide advanced teaching in pediatric nephrology as a joint effort with Regional Societies to engage young pediatric nephrologists and grow the field. Over 50 Juniors have completed the course and earned their certificate.

Pediatric Nephrology Journal

Monthly publishing Pediatric Nephrology, the leading journal for the pediatric nephrology specialty that highlights developments in clinical science and practice. Expanding the readership is critical to saving lives.

International Congress

Hosting the IPNA International Congress and facilitating workshops around the globe. Help support doctors who cannot afford to attend.

How you can help us

Your financial support helps train healthcare professionals in developing countries, ensuring that all children have access to life saving care.

Support us

European Society for Paediatric Nephrology

ALANEPE : Asociación Latinoamericana de Nefrología Pediátrica

African Paediatric Nephrology Association

American Society of Pediatric Nephrology

ANZPNA : Australian and New Zealand Paediatric Nephrology Association

Asian Pediatric Nephrology Association

Japanese Society for Pediatric Nephrology

Effective Partnerships

Forming partnerships and collaborating with like-minded regional pediatric nephrology groups to combine forces and develop financial and logistical solutions faster. Deepening and funding these collaborations will improve care worldwide.

Sister Center Program

The IPNA Sister Program is a collaborative effort to build capacity caring for children with kidney disease. International expertise is leveraged to provide the most effective care using the most available resources of the region.

Operating the Sister Program, which links developing pediatric kidney units that are in less well-resourced regions (emerging centers) to experienced pediatric kidney units in well-resourced regions (supporting centers) on a one to one basis. The program trains staff involved in caring for children with kidney disease, educates the community about kidney disease awareness and preventative strategies and conducts research. This development assistance is vital, and we must continue and grow The Sister Centre Program.

Patient Registry

Building a Patient Registry as a vehicle for physicians and patients to participate in the research process, which leads to the development of new treatments for children with kidney disease. Unfortunately, in middle- and low- income countries, registry data is incomplete, leaving large components of the global pediatric end stage kidney disease population unidentified, and policy makers and healthcare providers unaware about the disease burden in specific regions. The IPNA Global Renal Replacement Therapy (RRT) Registry is an international platform that all countries into which all countries can submit data on children receiving kidney replacement therapy around the world.

Saving Young Lives

The Saving Young Lives Program aims to develop sustainable peritoneal dialysis (PD) programs to treat patients with Acute Kidney Injury in low resource settings.

From its inception, the plan has been to provide basic support including supplies, education and training of physicians and nurses to start PD programs for patients with Acute Kidney Injury. Program development goals include fiscal sustainability after two to three years.

Collaborating and providing training with the Saving Young Lives partnerships to make dialysis supplies available in very low resource settings of the world is vital. This current absence of supplies is unacceptable to us and we need to provide more development aid

Disaster Relief Task Force

Responding to the needs of disasters via the renal Disaster Relief Task Force. When the unthinkable happens, we need to be ready to respond.

Resources

IPNA Foundation Annual Report

Year 2020 taught us that we must be prepared with alternative methods to provide programs supporting teaching & training in the low resource areas of the world. Kidney disease did not pause during Covid 19, and this report provides an overview of the efforts the IPNA council, membership and partners put forth during these challenging times. IPNA’s accomplishments are the result of membership interacting and volunteering to help improve the lives of children with kidney disease. We are making an impact, yet there is much more to be done.

Thanks to your help

Early screening for kidney problems and better provision of treatment can save children’s lives around the world.

Frequent use of urine dipstick tests, blood pressure monitoring, and renal ultrasound can improve the quality of life for this fragile population.

With Fluid Replacement Therapy, the number of children who develop serious fluid and electrolyte problems and acute kidney injury can be decreased.

With early diagnosis and proper medication, the mortality associated with kidney disease in HIV patients can be decreased.

And with better educational programs and long-term follow-up, the lives of children born at low birth weight who would otherwise suffer from chronic kidney disease and hypertension can be impacted dramatically.

Support Healthy Kidneys

Read more on how you can support healthy kidneys or go straight to the Donate page and help us save kids’ lives.

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