World Kidney Day, being held on 11 March, aims to raise awareness of the importance of our kidneys to our overall health and to reduce the frequency and impact of kidney disease and its associated health problems worldwide.
Chronic kidney disease is more prevalent that many people think and according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, some 10 per cent of Australian adults have signs of the disease.
And its incidence is rising. The AIHW reports the number of Australians with a moderate-to-severe loss of kidney function nearly doubled from 322,000 in 1999–2000 to 604,000 in 2011–12). This increase was mostly driven by an increase in in the size of the population aged 65 and over.
World Kidney Days aims to:
- courage 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.
Learn more about how to become involved on World Kidney Day
