March is National Kidney Month, a time to raise awareness and focus on building paths to better kidney care. Today, March 10, 2022, we celebrate World Kidney Day to spread the word about the importance of kidney health and to encourage screening for chronic kidney disease.
The global event is a joint initiative of the International Society of Nephrology and the International Federation of Kidney Foundations. It is celebrated annually on the second Thursday in the month of March.
This year’s theme is Kidney Health for All – Bridge the gap to better kidney care. The focus is on increasing education and awareness about kidney health and bridging the “knowledge gap” that exists in the community, the healthcare system, and among public health policy makers. (See more here.)
Social media sites are encouraging people to #ShowYourKidneys and #SockittoKidneyDisease.
See below for how Leslie Gewin, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine, WashU Nephrology, started World Kidney Day 2022! See her Tweet.
Also highlighting kidney health this month is the National Kidney Foundation’s (NKF) St. Louis Kidney Walk 2022, held Sunday, March 27, 2022. The NKF sponsors the fundraiser, the nation’s largest walking event. The event is extra special this year because it is again being held in person; the past two years, the walks were virtual due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The St. Louis event hopes to raise $90,000 this year. All funds go toward research, patient services, professional education, public health education and community services.
One of the teams that will be walking as a group this year is the Cool Beaners from Barnes Jewish Transplant. The team is coordinated by Jane Hughes, Kidney Transplant Coordinator, BJH Transplant Center.
“We have close to 20 people so far and have raised over $6,000!” says Hughes. I would love to have more people join us. It’s going to be a great day!”
