The Kidney Kid Superhero Initiative Goes International on World Kidney Day

Fresenius Medical Care's Corporate Social Responsibility program empowers children and families with tools to help prevent chronic kidney disease from an early age

HONG KONG -- (BUSINESS WIRE) --

Fresenius Medical Care, the world’s leading provider of dialysis products and services, has today announced the international and digital expansion of its highly successful Asia Pacific-wide Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative, The Kidney Kid superhero. This colorful character takes children on a series of adventures to learn more about their ‘super organ’ kidneys and how to keep them healthy. The expansion of this initiative comes on World Kidney Day, which in 2020, is calling on everyone to advocate for concrete measures in every country to promote and advance kidney disease prevention.

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The Kidney Kid was first launched on World Kidney Day across Asia Pacific in 2017. The superhero provides an ‘edutainment’ (education + entertainment) program, including an animated video, interactive learning and physical games aimed at children aged 6 to 12 years. The program can be used in face-to-face activities where children learn while having fun in a group with their teachers or carers.

The campaign will now expand from Asia Pacific into other countries, and is available in multiple languages. The Kidney Kid’s adventures will also move into the digital space through the launch of a free smartphone game app and website. In the free game app, children will take on The Kidney Kid persona, and through a series of challenges that promote physical activity, they will run, jump, fly, swim and dash to collect foods and drinks that support healthy kidneys while helping to solve mysteries in the imaginary town of Whippington.

The Kidney Kid website will enable children to access comics, activities, games and videos that further promote kidney health, and will include resources for teachers and parents.

“We are incredibly proud of the preventative kidney health messages we have been able to share with children over the last three years and the potential for this to positively impact risk factors for kidney disease,” said Harry de Wit, President and CEO of Fresenius Medical Care Asia Pacific.

“Now, it is time to do more. World Kidney Day 2020 alerts us to the fact that one in ten adults has chronic kidney disease (CKD) and that the need to increase awareness of preventative measures is more urgent than ever”.¹

Obesity is a risk factor for CKD and its progression, in both adults and children. Worldwide, 380 million children and adolescents are overweight or obese.² Some degree of renal impairment associated with obesity is believed to start early in childhood, long before the appearance of hypertension, diabetes, and other associated comorbidities.³ This means that lifestyle interventions need to begin at the earliest possible age.

“The key to this initiative,” said Harry de Wit, “is that World Kidney Day is just the beginning, and the new digital Kidney Kid will form part of the company’s ongoing contribution to essential kidney health education.”

To download The Kidney Kid app, please visit the App Store or Google Play and search for ‘Kidney Kid’.

Visit The Kidney Kid website at thekidneykid.org

References

1. World Kidney Day. 2020 Campaign Toolkit. Available from https://www.worldkidneyday.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/WKD-2020-General_Toolkit-1.pdf. Accessed February 2020.
2. World Health Organization Media Centre, Obesity and overweight fact sheet, updated March 2020. Available from http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs311/en/
3. Correia-Costa, L., Azevedo, A. and Caldas Afonso, A. (2019). Childhood Obesity and Impact on the Kidney. Nephron Clinical Practice, 143(1), pp.8-11.

IMPACT OF THE KIDNEY KID ASIA PACIFIC INITIATIVE TO DATE

Since its inception in 2017, Fresenius Medical Care has taken The Kidney Kid campaign to schools, pediatric hospitals, shopping malls, parks and orphanages across Asia Pacific, reaching more than 20,000 children, parents and carers in 14 countries. The superhero’s message has been spread even further with over 600 pieces of media coverage, and via children themselves who share the messages with their parents and grandparents, making this a true cross-generational campaign.

ABOUT FRESENIUS MEDICAL CARE

Fresenius Medical Care is the world's leading provider of products and services for individuals with renal diseases of which around 3.5 million patients worldwide regularly undergo dialysis treatment. Through its network of 3,994 dialysis clinics, Fresenius Medical Care provides dialysis treatments for 345,096 patients around the globe. Fresenius Medical Care is also the leading provider of dialysis products such as dialysis machines or dialyzers. Along with the core business, the company focuses on expanding the range of related medical services in the field of Care Coordination. Fresenius Medical Care is listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (FME) and on the New York Stock Exchange (FMS).

For more information visit the company’s website at www.freseniusmedicalcare.asia

DISCLAIMER

This release contains forward-looking statements that are subject to various risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those described in these forward-looking statements due to various factors, including, but not limited to, changes in business, economic and competitive conditions, legal changes, regulatory approvals, results of clinical studies, foreign exchange rate fluctuations, uncertainties in litigation or investigative proceedings, and the availability of financing. These and other risks and uncertainties are detailed in Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA's reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA does not undertake any responsibility to update the forward-looking statements in this release.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200312005270/en/

CONTACT:

Dr. Alexandra Villar
Vice President
Corporate Communications and Branding
Asia Pacific
Fresenius Medical Care
T +61 2 9466 8020
Alexandra.Villar@fmc-asia.com

On World Kidney Day 2020, Fresenius Medical Care’s Corporate Social Responsibility program “The Kidney Kid” goes international, empowering children and families with tools to help prevent chronic kidney disease from an early age. (Graphic: Business Wire)

Through the launch of a smartphone game app and interactive website, The Kidney Kid ‘edutainment’ program will be enhanced and allow children to learn while having fun. (Graphic: Business Wire)

In the free game app, children will take on The Kidney Kid persona to collect foods and drinks that support healthy kidneys while helping to solve mysteries in the imaginary town of Whippington. (Graphic: Business Wire)

Comics, activities, games and videos that further promote kidney health and other resources are accessible at The Kidney Kid website for teachers and parents. (Graphic: Business Wire)