{"id":11512,"date":"2025-05-21T13:44:30","date_gmt":"2025-05-21T13:44:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/laprensanewspaper.com\/?p=11512"},"modified":"2025-05-21T13:44:30","modified_gmt":"2025-05-21T13:44:30","slug":"paul-via-franco-de-la-fundacion-renal-del-noroeste-de-ohio-kfnwo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/laprensanewspaper.com\/index.php\/2025\/05\/21\/paul-via-franco-de-la-fundacion-renal-del-noroeste-de-ohio-kfnwo\/","title":{"rendered":"Paul Via Franco de la Fundaci\u00f3n Renal del Noroeste de Ohio (KFNWO)"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Paul Via Franco of the Kidney Foundation of Northwest Ohio (KFNWO)<\/strong><\/p>\n

By Dr. Linda Alvarado-Arce<\/strong><\/p>\n

Paul Via Franco works for the Kidney Foundation of Northwest Ohio (KFNWO). KFNWO is a local nonprofit organization that has been assisting individuals with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) in Northwest Ohio since 1966. CKD is a condition where the kidneys sustain long-term damage or experience reduced functioning that last three months or more. According to Paul, 1 in 7 adults, roughly 35.5 million people in the U.S. are estimated to have CKD. With as many as 9 in 10 adults not even knowing that they have it, and about 1 in 3 adults having severe CKD, and they do not know they have it.<\/p>\n

Paul got involved with the Foundation because he saw the ravages of CKD, diabetes, and life on dialysis within his own family. He shared with me that his grandmother passed away at the age of 60 due to complications related to diabetes. This past December, he lost his great aunt at the age of 72 to diabetes. And his mother is also currently diagnosed with the disease. So, working in this field is truly a very personal passion for him, as well as working with and for our Latinx community. As he put it, working in this field is important to him so he can help others not experience any more loss due to this disease as he has.<\/p>\n

In most cases, CKD is caused by diabetes and high blood pressure. Diabetes occurs when blood sugar levels are too high, leading to damage in various organs, including the kidneys, heart, blood vessels, nerves, and eyes. High blood pressure, or hypertension, occurs when the force of blood against the walls of your blood vessels is too high. If left uncontrolled, it can lead to heart attacks, strokes, and CKD.<\/p>\n

According to the 2022-2023 Lucas County Health Assessment, Latinxs with low socioeconomic status have high rates of diabetes, high blood pressure, and other chronic diseases. Twenty-eight percent (28%) of Latinxs with an income under 25k, during these years, were diagnosed with diabetes as opposed to 11% of the Lucas County adult population with the same income. Nineteen percent (19%) of Lucas County Latinx adults, or approximately 7,267 adults, were diagnosed with diabetes as compared to 14% of Lucas County adults overall. While 49% of Latinx adults over 65 were diagnosed with diabetes as opposed to 25% of Lucas County adults of the same age. Eight-nine percent (89%) of adults with diabetes are overweight or obese, 75% have high blood pressure, 62% have high cholesterol, and if individuals have all three of these conditions, they are at a higher risk of developing CKD. According to this same report, Latinx youth are even more likely to be diagnosed as being overweight and having higher rates of obesity. While Latinx adults have a 2% lower heart attack survival rate, and 32% have been diagnosed with high blood pressure (2022-2023 Lucas County Health Assessment).<\/p>\n

Some of the things that Paul says the Kidney Foundation is doing to change these outcomes are: 1) They have developed a free CKD mobile health screening program that they offer to local community centers and churches; 2) They offer a kidney disease management class for those who are newly diagnosed; 3) They have a support group for patients and caregivers living with the disease that has a special focus on our locally underserved and disproportionately impacted communities. The group every third Thursday at the Mott Branch Public Library on Dorr Street. And 4) they offer financial assistance to those who dialyze in our 20-county area. The KFNWO is 100 percent donor-supported, and all funds raised stay within these 20 counties.<\/p>\n

The mission of the KFNWO is to promote kidney health through community engagement, with a focus on patient services, financial assistance, and an emphasis on kidney disease education, prevention, and awareness, as Paul says, this is important \u201cso people can possibly avoid dialysis.\u201d Paul wanted people to know that \u201cKidney failure related to diabetes or high blood pressure can be prevented or delayed by maintaining a healthy diet, staying physically active, and using appropriate medications.\u201d For more information, you can contact Paul at pviaf@kfnwo.org, Kelly Mofield at kmofield@kfnwo.org, or go directly to info@kfnwo.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Paul Via Franco de la Fundaci\u00f3n Renal del Noroeste de Ohio (KFNWO)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Por la Dra. Linda Alvarado-Arce<\/strong><\/p>\n

Paul Via Franco trabaja para la Fundaci\u00f3n Renal del Noroeste de Ohio (KFNWO). Desde 1966, KFNWO es una organizaci\u00f3n que ayuda a personas con enfermedad renal cr\u00f3nica (ERC) en el noroeste de Ohio. La ERC es una afecci\u00f3n en la que los ri\u00f1ones sufren da\u00f1os a largo plazo o experimentan una reducci\u00f3n de su funcionamiento que dura tres meses o m\u00e1s. Seg\u00fan Paul, se estima que 1 de cada 7 adultos (aproximadamente 35.5 millones de personas en EE. UU.) tienen ERC. Hasta 9 de cada 10 adultos desconocen su condici\u00f3n, y aproximadamente 1 de cada 3 adultos tienen ERC grave y no lo saben.<\/p>\n

Paul se involucr\u00f3 con la Fundaci\u00f3n porque tiene familia con la ERC, la diabetes, y la di\u00e1lisis. Me cont\u00f3 que su abuela falleci\u00f3 a los 60 a\u00f1os, debido a complicaciones relacionadas con la diabetes. En diciembre pasado, perdi\u00f3 a su t\u00eda abuela a los 72 a\u00f1os por diabetes. Y su madre tambi\u00e9n tiene un diagnostica de la enfermedad. Para Paul, trabajar en esta \u00e1rea es una verdadera pasi\u00f3n para \u00e9l, as\u00ed como trabajar con y para nuestra comunidad latina. Como \u00e9l mismo lo expres\u00f3, trabajar en esta \u00e1rea es importante porque \u00e9l puede ayudar a otros a no sufrir m\u00e1s p\u00e9rdidas debido a esta enfermedad como las que \u00e9l ha sufrido.<\/p>\n

En la mayor\u00eda de los casos, la ERC es causada por la diabetes y la presi\u00f3n arterial alta. La diabetes ocurre cuando los niveles de az\u00facar en la sangre son demasiado altos, lo que provoca da\u00f1os en varios \u00f3rganos, como los ri\u00f1ones, el coraz\u00f3n, los vasos sangu\u00edneos, los nervios y los ojos. La presi\u00f3n arterial alta, o hipertensi\u00f3n, ocurre cuando la fuerza de la sangre contra las paredes de los vasos sangu\u00edneos es demasiado alta. Si no se controla, puede provocar ataques card\u00edacos, accidentes cerebrovasculares y ERC.<\/p>\n

Seg\u00fan la Evaluaci\u00f3n de Salud del Condado de Lucas 2022-2023, la poblaci\u00f3n latina de bajo recurso socioecon\u00f3mico tiene altas niveles de diabetes, hipertensi\u00f3n y otras enfermedades cr\u00f3nicas. Durante estos a\u00f1os, el 28% de la poblaci\u00f3n latina con ingresos menos de $25,000 fue diagnosticada con diabetes, en comparaci\u00f3n con el 11% de la poblaci\u00f3n adulta del Condado de Lucas con los mismos ingresos. El 19% de la poblaci\u00f3n latina adulta del Condado de Lucas, o aproximadamente 7,267 adultos, fue diagnosticada con diabetes, en comparaci\u00f3n con el 14% del total de adultos del Condado de Lucas. Mientras tanto, el 49% de la poblaci\u00f3n latina adulta mayor de 65 a\u00f1os fue diagnosticada con diabetes, en comparaci\u00f3n con el 25% de la poblaci\u00f3n adulta del Condado de Lucas de la misma edad. El 89% de la poblaci\u00f3n adulta con diabetes tiene sobrepeso u obesidad, el 75% tiene hipertensi\u00f3n, el 62% tiene colesterol alto y, si las personas presentan estas tres afecciones, tienen un mayor riesgo de desarrollar enfermedad renal cr\u00f3nica (ERC). Seg\u00fan este mismo informe, los j\u00f3venes latinos tienen a\u00fan m\u00e1s probabilidades de ser diagnosticados con sobrepeso y presentan m\u00e1s obesidad. Mientras que los adultos latinos superviven menos ataques card\u00edacos, un 2% menor, y el 32% han sido diagnosticado con hipertensi\u00f3n arterial (Evaluaci\u00f3n de Salud del Condado de Lucas 2022-2023).<\/p>\n

Algunas de las medidas que seg\u00fan Paul, por la Fundaci\u00f3n Renal, est\u00e1n tomando para cambiar estos resultados son: 1) Han desarrollado un programa m\u00f3vil gratuito de detecci\u00f3n de enfermedad renal cr\u00f3nica (ERC) que ofrecen a centros comunitarios e iglesias locales; 2) Ofrecen una clase sobre el manejo de la enfermedad renal para quienes han recibido un diagn\u00f3stico reciente; 3) Tienen un grupo de apoyo para pacientes y cuidadores que viven con la enfermedad, con un enfoque especial en nuestras comunidades locales marginadas y desproporcionadamente afectadas. El grupo se re\u00fane el tercero jueves de cada mes en la Biblioteca P\u00fablica, Mott Branch, en el Dorr Street. Y 4) ofrecen asistencia financiera a quienes se dializan en nuestra \u00e1rea de 20 condados. La KFNWO es 100 % financiada por donantes, y todos los fondos recaudados se destinan a estos 20 condados.<\/p>\n

La misi\u00f3n de la KFNWO es promover la salud renal a trav\u00e9s de la participaci\u00f3n comunitaria, con un enfoque en los servicios al paciente, la asistencia financiera y un \u00e9nfasis en la educaci\u00f3n, la prevenci\u00f3n y la concientizaci\u00f3n sobre la enfermedad renal. Como dice Paul, esto es importante “para que las personas puedan evitar la di\u00e1lisis.” Paul quer\u00eda que la gente sepa que “la insuficiencia renal relacionada con la diabetes o la hipertensi\u00f3n arterial se puede prevenir o retrasar manteniendo una dieta saludable, manteni\u00e9ndose f\u00edsicamente activo, y usando los medicamentos adecuados.” Para m\u00e1s informaci\u00f3n, puedes contactar a Paul en pviaf@kfnwo.org, a Kelly Mofield en kmofield@kfnwo.org, o directamente en info@kfnwo.org.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Paul Via Franco of the Kidney Foundation of Northwest Ohio (KFNWO) By Dr. Linda Alvarado-Arce Paul Via Franco works for the Kidney Foundation of Northwest Ohio (KFNWO). KFNWO is a local nonprofit organization that has been assisting individuals with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) in Northwest Ohio since 1966. CKD is a condition where the kidneys<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":11514,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_rtcl_gb_attr":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"wf_post_folders":[258],"class_list":["post-11512","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-articles"],"aioseo_notices":[],"rttpg_featured_image_url":{"full":["https:\/\/laprensanewspaper.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Kidney-1-copy.jpg",700,525,false],"landscape":["https:\/\/laprensanewspaper.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Kidney-1-copy.jpg",700,525,false],"portraits":["https:\/\/laprensanewspaper.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Kidney-1-copy.jpg",700,525,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/laprensanewspaper.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Kidney-1-copy-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/laprensanewspaper.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Kidney-1-copy-300x225.jpg",300,225,true],"large":["https:\/\/laprensanewspaper.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Kidney-1-copy.jpg",640,480,false],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/laprensanewspaper.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Kidney-1-copy.jpg",700,525,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/laprensanewspaper.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Kidney-1-copy.jpg",700,525,false],"rtcl-gallery":["https:\/\/laprensanewspaper.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Kidney-1-copy-700x462.jpg",700,462,true],"rtcl-thumbnail":["https:\/\/laprensanewspaper.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Kidney-1-copy-320x240.jpg",320,240,true],"rtcl-gallery-thumbnail":["https:\/\/laprensanewspaper.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Kidney-1-copy-150x105.jpg",150,105,true],"psacp-medium":["https:\/\/laprensanewspaper.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Kidney-1-copy-500x500.jpg",500,500,true],"rpwe-thumbnail":["https:\/\/laprensanewspaper.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Kidney-1-copy-45x45.jpg",45,45,true]},"rttpg_author":{"display_name":"LaPrensa Newspaper","author_link":"https:\/\/laprensanewspaper.com\/index.php\/author\/laprensa\/"},"rttpg_comment":0,"rttpg_category":"Articles<\/a>","rttpg_excerpt":"Paul Via Franco of the Kidney Foundation of Northwest Ohio (KFNWO) By Dr. Linda Alvarado-Arce Paul Via Franco works for the Kidney Foundation of Northwest Ohio (KFNWO). KFNWO is a local nonprofit organization that has been assisting individuals with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) in Northwest Ohio since 1966. CKD is a condition where the kidneys","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/laprensanewspaper.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11512","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/laprensanewspaper.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/laprensanewspaper.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/laprensanewspaper.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/laprensanewspaper.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11512"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/laprensanewspaper.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11512\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11516,"href":"https:\/\/laprensanewspaper.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11512\/revisions\/11516"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/laprensanewspaper.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11514"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/laprensanewspaper.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11512"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/laprensanewspaper.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11512"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/laprensanewspaper.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11512"},{"taxonomy":"wf_post_folders","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/laprensanewspaper.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/wf_post_folders?post=11512"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}