March is National Kidney Month. It is a time where we raise awareness across the country about kidney diseases and the importance of kidney health. This March is drastically different as we are not only raising awareness of kidneys, but across the globe, united we are working to manage the implications of the Coronavirus (COVID-19).
World Kidney Day is observed annually on the 2nd Thursday in March. At the start of this holiday, 66 countries observed this date in 2006. Within two years, this number rose to 88. WKD is a joint initiative of the International Society of Nephrology and the International Federation of Kidney Foundations (IFKF).
The American Association of Kidney Patients (AAKP), the nation’s largest fully independent kidney patient organization, today announced that given the serious threat posed by the Coronavirus to the kidney patient community, they are encouraging all patients and their families to avoid unnecessary travel, including all planned travel to Washington, D.C. during National Kidney Month in March and for the immediate future. Historically, hundreds of kidney patients and their families travel to the nation’s capital to discuss policies related to patient care choice and medical innovation with White House and Congressional officials.
March is the month when Americans and the U.S. Congress are asked to focus on kidney disease, a condition that impacts 40 million people, with an additional 700,000 suffering from kidney failure. The American Association of Kidney Patients (AAKP) is raising its voice against a silent killer throughout March. Founded in 1969, AAKP is the oldest and largest, fully independent patient-led, kidney patient organization in the U.S. This March marks the first National Kidney Month in AAKP’s Decade of the Kidney™ Initiative.
As per the NORD (National Organization of Rare Disease) website: The main objective of Rare Disease Day is to raise awareness among the general public and decision-makers about rare diseases and their impact on patients’ lives.
