World Kidney Day is celebrated every year on second Thursday of March. It is celebrated to raise awareness of the importance of kidneys to our health and about the diseases associated with kidneys.

World Kidney Day is a joint initiative of the International Society of Nephrology (ISN) and the International Federation of Kidney Foundations (IFKF).

Theme:

The theme for World Kidney Day 2023 is “Kidney Health for All – Preparing for the unexpected, supporting the vulnerable.” With this theme we can prepare affected people for unexpected situations by educating them about the disease and support the helpless people who have a kidney disease.

Facts:

• Chronic kidney disease affects approximately 800 million people worldwide.
• The Million Death Study estimated the number of kidney failure deaths to be 136,000 in 2015.
• Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is the 6th fastest growing cause of death.

Objectives:

• Raise awareness about our kidneys, highlight that diabetes and high blood pressure are key risk factors for Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD).
• Promote regular CKD screenings for all patients with diabetes and high blood pressure.
• On World Kidney Day all governments are encouraged to take action and invest in further kidney screening.
• Ensure kidney patients receive basic health services they need without suffering financial hardship.
• Encourage preventive behaviors.
• Educate all medical professionals about their key role in detecting and reducing the risk of CKD, particularly in high-risk populations.
• Stress the important role of local and national health authorities in controlling the CKD epidemic.

What is CKD?

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is a condition in which the kidneys are damaged and cannot filter blood as well as they should. Because of this, excess fluid and waste from blood remains and build up in the body and may cause other health problems, such as heart disease and stroke.

Symptoms:

You may not have many signs or symptoms in the early stages of chronic kidney disease. You might not realize that you have kidney disease until the condition is advanced.

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Urinating more or less
• Loss of appetite
• High blood pressure
• Fatigue and weakness
• Shortness of breath

Prevention:

Prevention is always better than cure, so taking care of your kidneys and overall health will reduce the chances of getting kidney disease.

• Healthy food choices
• Drinking plenty of fluids
• Exercise regularly
• Manage blood sugar levels
• Monitor blood pressure
• Control weight