World Kidney Day

World Kidney Day History

World Kidney Day is dedicated to raising public understanding about kidney health and disease, and the importance of early detection and prevention. This global observance highlights kidney disease's risk factors, such as diabetes, hypertension, and obesity, and highlights the role of healthy lifestyle choices in kidney health. Measures for preventing kidney disease include maintaining a balanced diet, engaging in regular physical activity, reducing salt intake, drinking plenty of water, and refraining from smoking and high alcohol consumption.

World Kidney Day was started in 2006 as a joint initiative by the International Society of Nephrology and the International Federation of Kidney Foundations. In the context of India, the relevance and importance of World Kidney Day is heightened. India bears a high burden of kidney disease, with an estimated 1 in 10 individuals suffering from some form of kidney ailment. Kidney disease in India arguably constitutes a public health crisis, given the country’s high prevalence rates of diabetes and hypertension, coupled with low awareness levels about kidney health among the general population.

World Kidney Day is observed across India through various activities, including awareness rallies, kidney health check-up camps, seminars, and lectures. Media campaigns are launched to spread information about kidney disease and preventive measures. Schools and colleges may organize health talks, poster exhibitions, and essay competitions to foster awareness among young people. The observance usually occurs on the second Thursday of March.

Facts about World Kidney Day

• The theme for World Kidney Day in 2024 was Kidney Health for All – Advancing equitable access to care and optimal medication practice. In 2023 the theme was Kidney Health for All – Preparing for the unexpected, supporting the vulnerable.
• Kidneys are essential organs with a lot of responsibility. According to worldkidneyday.org, your kidneys are responsible for making urine and removing any waste or extra fluid from your blood. They help control your body's chemical balance and your blood pressure and they also keep bones healthy. They even help the body make red blood cells.
• The leading cause of Chronic Kidney Disease is diabetes. Diabetes results in high blood sugar levels, which causes organ damage and affects the kidneys abilities to filter waste.
• With the rise in kidney diseases, the market for dialysis in India has been growing. India's dialysis market is anticipated to reach Rs. 392.4 billion by 2024.
• India enacted the Transplantation of Human Organs Act in 1994 to regulate organ donations and prevent organ trafficking. The law has since helped increase the rate of organ donation in India, though the rate remains significantly lower than global norms.

In the News and Trending in India for World Kidney Day

Top things to do in India for World Kidney Day

• Drink plenty of water - 6 to 8 cups daily. Water helps keep your kidneys healthy by helping them flush out waste.
• Smoking increases the risk of kidney cancer by 50%. If you or someone you know smokes, why not try quitting? Smoking reduces the flow of blood to the kidneys which can cause them to operate inefficiently.
• Attend Awareness Campaigns: Various organizations and hospitals in India organize awareness campaigns about kidney health. These campaigns often include health camps where people can get free kidney check-ups.
• Read a book to learn more about kidney health:
  The Color of The Ganges: The Global Bio-policy of Kidney Failure Among Indians - by V. Khan
  The ethics of organ transplantation in India - by Veena Shah
  Organ Donation and Transplantation in India: Ethical, Legal and Social Challenges - by Kishore R. S.