World Kidney Day 2024 is observed all over the world on the 9th of March.
World Kidney Day is a day to spread awareness for keeping kidneys healthy and away from diseases.
Various processions and campaign marches were flagged off on the day to make people aware of the importance of kidneys in human bodies, keeping kidneys safe and healthy, and fighting kidney-related diseases.
Aga Khan Hospitals across the world hosted a free kidney screening on World Kidney Day. People came for the free screening of their kidneys and got valuable feedback from healthcare specialists. The hospital also organized awareness drives on the occasion.
In Visakhapatnam, students from nursing colleges and schools along with doctors and professors organized a rally to observe World Kidney Day. The rally aimed at spreading awareness on taking care of kidneys by consuming more water, taking a balanced diet, and following a healthy lifestyle
World Kidney Day History
World Kidney Day is a global health campaign celebrated every year all across the world focusing on the health and importance of the major body organ, kidneys to reduce the occurrence of kidney diseases as well as related health problems.
It is commemorated worldwide on an annual basis on the 2nd Friday of March. It started celebrating in the year 2006 by 66 countries which increased to 88 countries in just 2 years.
The celebration was initiated by the joint committee of the “International Society of Nephrology and the International Federation of Kidney Foundations”. It is commemorated every year by health organizations on a global basis to raise awareness among common people that most kidney diseases are preventable and curable.
Health organizations organize this campaign at many places to spread messages about kidney diseases, complications, and their prevention and cure across the countries.
What is the Objective of World Kidney Day?
World Kidney Day is celebrated on the second Friday in March to raise awareness about the importance of kidneys.
It is celebrated to make the common public aware of the diseases and problems of the kidneys to reduce the occurrence of kidney diseases as well as all the associated health problems of the kidneys.
Some of the objectives of celebrating world kidney day are mentioned below:
- All aspects of preventive measures are described to motivate and promote public awareness for better prevention.
- Educating medical professionals about the kidneys and teaching them to play their key role in detecting and preventing kidney disease is celebrated.
- It is celebrated to get together of all the medical professionals from the local and national health authorities in order to control the spread of Chronic Kidney Diseases.
- It is celebrated to deal with high-risk problems as well as implement new strategies by motivating all the government authorities.
- It is celebrated to encourage people about kidney donation and transplantation as the best option for life-saving for getting free from kidney failure or other Chronic Kidney Diseases.
- It is celebrated to encourage people to the early detection and prevention methods of kidney problems to reduce future complications and deaths and disability from chronic renal and cardiovascular failure.
What is the significance of World Kidney Day?
Different groups and individuals organized events to make a difference in society for kidney health.
Organized a variety of physical activity events like walking, cycling, jogging, fitness, dancing and etc. Fact sheets and posters of the related event are distributed in the schools, community centers, and other educational institutions, the news is published on the websites, and promotion of the campaign motto is through blogs, forums, Twitter or Facebook, and other informational websites.
At the big kidney health centers, students and researchers organize meetings to discuss their own research works, lecture on chronic kidney diseases, prevention measures, renal transplants, dietary and treatment advice and etc.
Public health announcements are taking place at various TV channels on both national and international levels to make aware the common public of kidney donation, transplantation, early detection, prevention measures, treatment, lack of donor organs or use of deceased donor organs and so many topics.
It is also held at a national level as well as an international level to discuss kidney problems and come up with a solution.
The health minister is organizing free health checkups that will include screenings for blood glucose levels, creatinine levels, urine tests, blood pressure, and more.
Follow the following 8 Golden Rules for Better Kidney Prevention
Any kidney disease attack is like a silent killer and affects the quality of life. Some easy steps to prevent kidney problems are :
- Help your kidneys by keeping yourself fit and active as exercises help in reducing blood pressure and thus reduce the risk of developing Chronic Kidney Disease. This event celebration motivates people for daily walking, running, and cycling exercises.
- Help your kidneys by maintaining and controlling the normal blood sugar level as high blood sugar levels lead to diabetes and thus kidney damage. This event celebration motivates people with diabetes to get regular medications, tests, and check-ups of their kidney functions.
- You should drink at least 3-4 liters of fluids per day to keep your kidneys healthy. This will help them filter out toxins from your body, which can reduce the risk of developing chronic kidney diseases. World kidney day celebration on a global basis encourages people to proper fluid intake.
- Keep your kidneys healthy by avoiding the intake of counter pills on a regular basis as these are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (ibuprofen) which may lead to kidney damage and various diseases. Such medications may cause arthritis or back pain and put your kidneys at risk.
Symptoms of Kidney Problems
Some other symptoms of reduced kidney functions are:
- Alteration in the amount of urine, the appearance of urine, and the frequency of passing urine during the night
- Pain in the abdomen in the kidney areas
- Difficulty in sleeping
- High blood pressure
- Headache
- Shortness of breath
- The feeling of vomiting or vomiting
- Bad breath
Early Detection of Kidney Diseases
Most people ignore their common problem that’s why they remain undiagnosed in the early stages of kidney problems.
This event celebration brings people together and encourages them to the simple kidney function tests to get diagnosed with any risk factors which may lead to kidney problems.
Never let your kidney problems destroy your precious kidney functions as it progresses very silently without any symptoms. The early detection of kidney problems is very necessary to get suitable treatment to prevent kidney damage, deterioration, and complications.
The kidney is tested by taking small samples of blood and measuring the levels of creatinine, and albumin excretion, and estimating GFR (glomerular filtration rate).
The availability of Serum Creatinine level in the blood, albumin in urine, and blood sugar level measures the overall kidney health and its functions or Glomerular Filtration Rate.
Normal GFR is 100 ml/min, but when it falls below 60 ml/min it indicates some serious kidney problems and an immediate need to meet your kidney specialist. The presence of albumin in urine indicates the risk of GFR problems and premature heart attacks or strokes.
World Kidney Day Theme
World Kidney Day event was started celebrated in 2006 and has not stopped growing ever since. Every year campaign celebration highlights a particular theme:
- The theme of World Kidney Day 2006 was “Are your kidneys OK?”.
- The theme of World Kidney Day 2007 was “CKD: Common, harmful and treatable”.
- The theme of World Kidney Day 2008 was “Your amazing kidneys!”.
- The theme of World Kidney Day 2009 was “Protect your kidneys: Keep your pressure down”.
- The theme of World Kidney Day 2010 was “Protect your kidneys: Control diabetes”.
- The theme of World Kidney Day 2011 was “Protect your kidneys: Save your heart”.
- The theme of World Kidney Day 2012 was “Donate – Kidneys for Life – Receive”.
- The theme of World Kidney Day 2013 was “Kidneys for Life – Stop Kidney Attack!”
- The theme of World Kidney Day 2014 was “Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) and ageing”.
- The theme of World Kidney Day 2015 was “Kidney Health for All”.
- The theme of World Kidney Day 2016 was “Kidney Disease & Children: Act Early to Prevent It”.
- The theme of World Kidney Day 2017 was “Kidney Disease & Obesity. Healthy Lifestyle for Healthy Kidneys”.
- The theme of World Kidney Day 2018 was “Kidneys & Women’s Health: Include, Value, Empower”.
- The theme of World Kidney Day 2019 was “Kidney Health for Everyone, Everywhere”.
- The theme of World Kidney Day 2020 is “Kidney Health for Everyone, Everywhere”.
- The theme of World Kidney Day 2021 is “Living Well with Kidney Disease”.
- The theme of World Kidney Day 2022 is “Kidney Health for All”.
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| National Safety Day | 4th March |
| International Women’s Day | 8th March |
| Dandi March Day | 12th March |
| World Kidney Day | 11th March |
| Ordnance Factories Day | 18th March |
| International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination | 21st March |
| World Forestry Day | 21st March |
| World Water Day | 22nd March |
| Martyrs Day | 23rd March and 30th January |
| World Meteorological Day | 23rd March |
| World TB Day | 24th March |