World Kidney Day (WKD) is a global campaign annually observed across the globe on the 2nd Thursday of March to raise awareness of the importance of kidneys to overall health and equitable access to care and medication for all.
- WKD also aims to raise awareness of kidney disease and to reduce the impact of kidney disease and its associated health problems.
WKD 2024 is observed on 14 March 2024.
- WKD 2023 was observed on 9 March 2023; WKD 2025 will be observed on 13 March 2025.
The 2024 WKD campaign theme is, “Kidney Health for All – Advancing Equitable Access to Care and Optimal Medication Practice.”
Background:
i.The International Society of Nephrology (ISN) and the International Federation of Kidney Foundations (IFKF) jointly proposed that a World Kidney Day be established on the 2nd Thursday of March every year.
ii.WKD was first launched on 9 March 2006 (Thursday), and fully inaugurated on 8 March 2007 (Thursday).
iii.On 1 July 2020, the International Federation of Kidney Foundations (IFKF) was re-launched into the International Federation of Kidney Foundations – World Kidney Alliance (IFKF-WKA).
WKD 2024 Scientific Editorial:
i.The WKD Steering Committee published the WKD 2024 Scientific Editorial, “Mind the Gap in Kidney Care: translating what we know into what we do”.
ii.The 2024 editorial emphasises the urgency of translating knowledge into action in kidney care.
Chronic kidney disease (CKD):
i.CKD, also called chronic kidney failure, is a serious medical condition characterised by the gradual loss of kidney function over months or years.
ii.It is a condition that impairs the ability of the kidneys to properly filter blood. Each kidney contains millions of tiny filtering units called nephrons.
iii.When nephrons become damaged or impaired, they lose their ability to filter blood effectively, resulting in various health issues.
Key Points:
i.CKD affects over 850 million people globally, with 3.1 million deaths recorded in 2019.
ii.Currently ranked as the 8th leading cause of death, CKD is projected to become the 5th leading cause of years of life lost by 2040 if left unaddressed.
About International Society of Nephrology (ISN):
President– Masaomi Nangaku (Japan)
President-Elect– Marcello Tonelli (Canada)
Founded in– 1960
