World Kidney Day

A global health awareness campaign observed annually on the second Thursday in March, focused on the importance of the kidneys and on reducing the frequency and impact of kidney disease and its associated health problems worldwide. World Kidney Day is a joint initiative of the International Society of Nephrology and the International Federation of Kidney Foundations; 66 countries observed the day in 2006, a number that grew to 88 countries within two years. The campaign aims to raise public awareness that many kidney conditions are treatable, even though kidney disease often receives less attention than other chronic diseases affecting the wider population.