World Kidney Day and World Water Day- two sides of the same coin: how can we ever think of our kidneys without thinking of water? Little wonder, both themes are celebrated together this month of March where we March forces for our Kidneys and water. PSHAN joins global community to celebrate these two significant events that reminds us daily of the importance of health and environmental stewardship.
March 14th is celebrated annually as World Kidney Day, an annual event to raise awareness of how to take care of our kidney and keep them healthy. In 2024, the theme to promote “Kidney Health for All – Advancing equitable access to care and optimal medication practice” resonates with the march towards achieving Universal Health Coverage.
Kidneys perform essential functions of filtering waste and excess fluid from the blood, regulating blood pressure, and producing hormones crucial for overall health. However, kidney diseases most of which are preventable or curable if diagnosed early, often go unnoticed and reaching advanced stages, leading to severe complications.
Closely related to Kidney health is access to adequate, safe, and clean water. The amount of water needed daily for good kidney health can vary depending on individual factors such as age, gender, body size, activity level, and climate. However, a general guideline recommended by health experts is to drink about 8 to 10 cups of water per day, which is roughly equivalent to about 2 to 2.5 liters (or half a gallon to a little over 2 gallons) of fluid. However, it’s essential to listen to your body’s thirst signals and adjust your fluid intake accordingly, especially in hot weather or during physical activity when you may need more fluids to stay hydrated.
Since 1993, March 22nd every year is dedicated to celebrating World Water Day and raising awareness of 2.2 billion people living without access to safe drinking water. Access to clean water is essential for human health, sanitation, agriculture, and industry. However, pollution, climate change, and inadequate infrastructure pose significant challenges to water safety, affecting billions of people worldwide. Therefore,
In commemorating World Kidney Day, it is important to connect the dots between human health and environmental well-being just as kidneys rely on water for optimal function. PSHAN advocates for a renewed commitment to prioritizing kidney health, adopting healthy lifestyle habits including adequate water intake, support for initiatives that promote awareness, prevention, and treatment of kidney diseases.
Afterall, “if we don’t take care of our kidneys, who will?”
