World Kidney Day is a global healthcare event celebrated on the second Thursday in March every year since 2006. It aims to bring together patients suffering from kidney diseases and educate people about their role in maintaining health. To promote awareness about “Kidney”. This year 2024,
World Kidney Day is observed on Thursday, March 14.
Various medical campaigns are conducted on this day, like
- Systematic screening for all sorts of continual kidney disease (particularly sufferers laid low with diabetes and hypertension)
- Dissemination of preventive tips
- Advocacy of kidney transplantation as the option with the best outcome for kidney failure
- About 1 in 10 people worldwide suffer from some degree of chronic kidney disease, as it can develop at any age, and various risk factors can accelerate it.
- Genetically, people from South Asian geographic regions, that is, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka, have a higher risk of developing chronic kidney disease, especially with increased rates of diabetes and high blood pressure.
World Kidney Day 2024 Theme
This year 2024, the theme of World Kidney Day is “Kidney Health for All – Advancing equitable access to care and optimal medication practice”. This year’s theme aims to raise awareness of disparities in kidney disease treatment and encourage collaborative efforts to improve access to appropriate treatment for every person affected by kidney disease.
Year by year, the themes of World Kidney Day:
- WKD 2023 Theme: Kidney Health for All – Preparing for the unexpected, supporting the vulnerable
- The theme of WKD 2022: Kidney Health for All – Bridging the knowledge gap for better kidney care
- WKD 2021 Theme: Kidney Health for Everyone Everywhere – Living Well with Kidney Disease
- The theme of WKD 2020: Kidney health for everyone, everywhere – from prevention to testing and equitable access to care
- The theme of WKD 2019: Kidney Health for Everyone, Everywhere
- WKD 2018 Theme: Kidney and Women’s Health. Include, Value, Empower
- WKD 2017 Theme: Kidney Disease and Obesity – Healthy Lifestyle for Healthy Kidneys
Significance of World Kidney Day
A progressive condition that affects more than 10% of the general global population, chronic kidney disease affects more than 800 million individuals. Commonly prevalent in the elderly and diabetics, chronic kidney disease imposes a significant burden in low- and middle-income countries.
The estimated prevalence of chronic kidney disease in India is 800 per 10 lakh people, while the incidence of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) is 150–200 per 10 lakh. Diabetic nephropathy is the most common cause in India.
The epidemic of chronic kidney disease in Indians is seen with the increasing diabetes burden, prevalence of hypertension, and aging population; It will get worse. The coming wave of chronic kidney disease can be faced only with awareness. Understanding can help in the early detection of kidney disease, and awareness campaigns can be considered more successful if they reach the patient.
Apart from educating people collectively, World Kidney Day also helps draw the attention of local and national health authorities and other stakeholders in controlling the chronic kidney disease epidemic.
History of World Kidney Day (WKD)
The International Society of Nephrology (ISN) and the International Federation of Kidney Foundations (IFKF) collaborated to create World Kidney Day. It helps to spread the importance of the “Wonderful Kidney” in our overall health and reduce the frequency of kidney disease worldwide.
International Society of Nephrology (ISN)
The ISN is a non-profit group founded in 1960 that strives to improve the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of kidney disease in both the developing and developed world. With more than 9,000 professional members from 126 countries, ISN 2020 celebrated its 60th anniversary.
International Federation of Kidney Foundation (IFKF)
Similar to ISN, IFKF is also a non-profit organization established in 1999. IFKF’s global advocacy aims to improve the health and quality of life of people with kidney disease, facilitate kidney foundations in developing countries, and promote kidney disease research.
Important 7 Chronic Kidney Disease Prevention Tips
- Stay fit and avoid a sedentary lifestyle
- Eat a healthy balanced diet
- Check and manage blood sugar levels
- Check and maintain blood pressure levels
- Drink adequate fluids (8 cups, about 2 liters per day)
- Abstinence from tobacco consumption
- Avoid regular intake of non-steroidal anti-inflammatories
Lifestyle changes for kidney health
- Regular health checkups are essential to monitor kidney function and detect symptoms of kidney disease early.
- Early detection allows timely action and care.
- Chronic stress can increase your chances of developing high blood pressure, which is a risk factor for kidney disease.
- Try meditation, deep breathing exercises, or enjoying a hobby to reduce stress.
Also Read: World Kidney Cancer Day : All You Need To Know About