World Kidney Day is global healthcare event celebrated every year on the 2nd Thursday in March. It was celebrated for the first time in the year 2006. The International Society of Nephrology (ISN) and International Federation of Kidney Foundations (IFKF) collaborated to create World Kidney Day.
The aim of World Kidney Day is to promote awareness of “amazing kidneys “by educating the people about their role in maintaining health. It intends to bring together the patients suffering from kidney diseases. It serves as a forum to appeal to various governments and world leaders as well as NGOs to work collaboratively to create awareness about the challenges faced by patients suffering from kidney diseases
, those on dialysis and those who have undergone kidney transplantation. It encourages the collaboration between various medical professionals and societies striving for research on the this debilitating illness and tries to bring a concerted regulation of policies in containing the epidemic of CKD in the world.
This year World Kidney Day 23 theme is: ‘Kidney Health for All-Preparing for the unexpected, supporting the vulnerable.’
Hundreds of events are held around the world on this day to raise awareness about kidney health. This includes events like public screenings, seminars, walks and marathons. The goal is to raise awareness about kidney health and how people can live long and disease free life. It also emphasises the importance of diabetes and high blood pressure as risk factors for CKD and encouraging CKD screening of all patients with diabetes and hypertension. This year’s theme reframes kidney disease care as improving outcomes so that patients can continue to participate in their regular lives.
On this day several medical campaigns are conducted such as :
1. Systematic screening for all types of CKD, especially in patients with Diabetes and hypertension.
2. Circulation of Preventive Tips
3. Promoting Kidney transplantation as the best option for CKD.
Kidney Disease in India
Worldwide one in 10 people suffers from some degree of kidney disease.
Approximate prevalence of CKD in India is 800 per 10 lakhs of people. Incidence of end stage kidney disease is 150-200 per 10 lakhs.
Registry of Kidney Diseases was published for the first time in India ,by the Indian Society of Nephrology when I was the President of the Society. It revealed that diabetic nephropathy is the commonest cause of CKD while CKD of unknown etiology is the second common cause and this was identified by me for the first time , in India.
Majority of patients of CKD were not getting any kind of treatment till 2009 in combined AP This was true in the entire country. This scenario has changed subsequently with the introduction of Free Haemodialysis Scheme of Arogyasree. AP was a pioneer in this. Kidney Transplantation also made rapid strides after 1994 only after introduction of THOA. In 2010 streamlined deceased donor organ transplantation Program Jeevan Dan was started in combined AP for the first time and later in new AP, followed by several states in India. All this happened when I was President of ISN and in AP Government service.
Now with Arogya and Ayushman Bharat and such programs, majority of kidney disease patients are able to access healthcare facilities in India.
Apollo Hospitals in Visakhapatnam has pioneered in treatment of kidney diseases after it was started more than 2 decades ago. There are state of the art facilities in our Hospital for management of all Urological and Nephrology problems. High quality Haemodialysis with modern machines; Robotic Surgery facilities are available. High quality kidney transplantation even for high risk patients is our specialty.
Comprehensive Kidney Care of highest quality under care of world class Nephrologist and group is available in Apollo Hospital, Vizag only in Andhra Pradesh.
Nephrology Department
Dr. Ravi Raju Tatapudi,
MD, DM, Sr. Consultant – Vice Chancellor, The Apollo University.
Dr. Anil Kumar Patro S, MD, DM, Sr. Consultant Dr. P S Vamseedhar, MD, DM, Sr. Consultant
Urology Department
Dr. Naidu N Chitikela,
MS, MCh, Sr. Consultant
Dr. Sandeep Maheshwar Reddy, MS, MCh, Consultant.
