Governor Gretchen Whitmer is a lifelong Michigander. She is a lawyer, an educator, former prosecutor, State Representative and Senator. She was the first woman to lead a Senate caucus. But the most important title she boasts is MOM. Inspired by her family, she’s devoted her life to building a stronger Michigan for everyone.
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March 01, 2019
WHEREAS, chronic kidney disease is a national healthcare priority, with 30 million Americans living with kidney disease and only 10 percent are aware they suffer from this disease; and,
WHEREAS, chronic kidney disease is the 9th leading cause of death in the United States; and,
WHEREAS, annually, it costs Medicare $87,000 for each dialysis patient and $32,500 for the first-year care of a kidney transplant patient, while it only costs $83-$143 to perform kidney disease tests; and,
WHEREAS, there are 13,172 Medicare patients in Michigan on dialysis, 14,760 people diagnosed with chronic kidney disease, and another 2,354 Michiganders waiting for a kidney on a transplant list; and,
WHEREAS, hypertension and diabetes are the two main causes of chronic kidney disease and are controllable risk factors if dealt with early in life, while the risks of kidney disease increase over the age of 60 and if one’s family history suffered from kidney disease.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Gretchen Whitmer, governor of Michigan, do hereby proclaim month of March 2019 as Kidney Month in Michigan.