Leitrim volunteers for the IKA remerge after a 4 years hiatus and mark World Kidney Day

The Irish Kidney Association and the HSE National Renal Office (NRO) are coming together to raise awareness about Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) on World Kidney Day, March 14.

With statistics revealing that 1 in 10 people of the general population and 1 in 7 people in Ireland over the age of 50 have Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), the focus of the campaign is to urge individuals to take action and prioritise kidney health, especially given its close links to diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease.

The World Kidney Day 2024 campaign marks the return of the Irish Kidney Association's national fundraising campaign after a four-year hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Volunteers from Leitrim and elsewhere, many of whom are patients themselves, will be back in ALDI stores, distributing free organ donor cards and collecting vital funds to support patients in need through the sale of the Irish Kidney Association’s Forget-me-Not flower emblems.

A simple blood or urine test can be the first step to check kidney health and identify if kidney disease exists. By catching CKD early, people can take proactive steps to manage their condition, slow down its progression, and possibly prevent further complications.
CKD is categorised into five stages of progression, with Stage 5, the final stage, indicating End Stage Kidney Disease (ESKD) and the need for either dialysis or a transplant.
Chronic Kidney Disease is often described as 'the silent illness hiding in plain sight' which develops over time and usually does not show any obvious symptoms until it progresses to kidney failure.
According to a recently published report by The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA) and the HSE National Renal Office, over 200,000 people in the over-fifty age group in Ireland have CKD. Also, there are more than 5,000 people diagnosed with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD, also referred to as Stage 5 kidney disease), with over 2,400 patients currently undergoing dialysis treatment.
Commenting on the campaign, Carol Moore, Chief Executive of the Irish Kidney Association, stated, "Chronic Kidney Disease is a very real and prevalent issue affecting approximately 800 million people globally, including 500,000 people here in Ireland.

"The lack of knowledge about chronic kidney disease and its relationship with the better-known high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease conditions needs to be addressed.

"According to the TILDA survey, 98% of people who had CKD were unaware they suffered from it. The results of the TILDA survey reinforce the Irish Kidney Association's call for CKD to be integrated into the HSE National Chronic Disease Management Programme as a crucial step towards ensuring better health outcomes and reduced healthcare costs."

The Irish Pharmacy Union and several pharmacy chains are supporting the Irish Kidney Association's campaign around World Kidney Day, and many pharmacies will display the campaign poster on their digital screens.