An Indian Perspective on the 2023 Campaign for World Kidney Day “Kidney Health for All – Preparing for the Unexpected, Supporting the Vulnerable!”

Dear Editor,

World Kidney Day is an annual global campaign that aims to raise awareness about the importance of kidney health and the role of the kidneys in our overall health. The theme for World Kidney Day, 2023, (held on March 9, 2023) is “Kidney Health for All – Preparing for the unexpected, supporting the vulnerable!”

The current situation in India emphasizes the need to support people who are at risk of kidney disease and those who have already been diagnosed with it. The theme of “supporting the vulnerable” for World Kidney Day 2023 is particularly relevant in India, where several vulnerable groups are at risk of developing kidney disease. These groups include patients with non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like diabetes and hypertension, older adults, and low-income and underprivileged populations. To support these vulnerable groups, raising awareness about kidney disease and its risk factors is essential. This can include educating the public about the importance of a healthy lifestyle, regular kidney function tests, and early detection and management of non-communicable diseases. Figure 1 illustrates various policy changes that are the need of the hour.

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Figure 1:

An Indian perspective on supporting the vulnerable: A long road ahead.

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By planning for kidney-NCD collaboration, raising awareness about kidney disease through health education, creating interdepartmental alliances, reinforcing health equity, and implementing an integrated health care, we can work toward a future where kidney disease is no longer a major public health problem in India!