World Kidney Day History Theme Significance and Facts

Every year, World Kidney Day is marked on the second Thursday of March. This year, the day is being observed on March 11 worldwide. In India, annually about two lakh people get kidney diseases and it’s difficult to diagnose it in its initial stage. World Kidney Day is a joint initiative of the International Society of Nephrology (ISN) and the International Federation of Kidney Foundations (IFKF).

The objective of celebrating the event is to spread awareness about the increasing number of people contracting kidney diseases across the world. The day highlights the need for the strategies for prevention and management of kidney disease. It also encourages people to opt for regular screening and make changes for a healthy lifestyle.

History

The first time World Kidney Day was celebrated was in the year 2006. The aim is to raise awareness among people of kidney-related problems and treatment and the impact of kidney on our overall health. The number of kidney disease patients and following deaths have been increasing in our country. World Kidney Day is a global health campaign that brings focus to the importance of fighting kidney disease.

Significance

Kidneys are our body’s vital organs which filter the blood and help in passing waste as urine. The celebration of World Kidney Day was first started by the joint committee of International Society of Nephrology and International Federation of Kidney Foundations. Every year, health organisations celebrate the day to help people prevent kidney disease and also inform them to take precautions for a healthy life. They organise campaigns to spread messages about kidney diseases, their prevention and cure.

Objectives

• Raise awareness about our “amazing kidneys” Highlight that diabetes and high blood pressure are key risk factors for Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD).
• Encourage systematic screening of all patients with diabetes and hypertension for CKD.
• Encourage preventive behaviours.
• 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. On World
• Kidney Day all governments are encouraged to take action and invest in further kidney screening.
• Encourage Transplantation as a best-outcome option for kidney failure, and the act of organ donation as a life-saving initiative.

World Kidney Day started in 2006 and has not stopped growing ever since. Every year, the campaign highlights a particular theme.

• 2021 Living Well with Kidney Disease
• 2020 Kidney Health for Everyone Everywhere – from Prevention to Detection and Equitable Access to Care
• 2019 Kidney Health for Everyone, Everywhere
• 2018 Kidneys & Women’s Health. Include, Value, Empower
• 2017 Kidney Disease & Obesity – Healthy Lifestyle for Healthy Kidneys
• 2016 Kidney Disease & Children – Act Early to Prevent It!
• 2015 Kidney Health for All
• 2014 Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) and aging
• 2013 Kidneys for Life – Stop Kidney Attack!
• 2012 Donate – Kidneys for Life – Receive
• 2011 Protect your kidneys: Save your heart
• 2010 Protect your kidneys: Control diabetes
• 2009 Protect your kidneys: Keep your pressure down
• 2008 Your amazing kidneys!
• 2007 CKD: Common, harmful and treatable
• 2006 Are your kidneys OK?