World Kidney Day is a global health awareness campaign focusing on the importance of our kidneys and reducing the frequency and impact of Kidney Disease and its associated health problems worldwide. The campaign is celebrated every year on the second Thursday of March in more than 100 countries in 6 continents. Every year the campaign highlights a specific aspect of the Kidney.

This year, World Kidney Day and International Women’s Day 2018, will be celebrated on the same day, i.e. on 8^th March. Hence, this is the best opportunity to reflect on the importance of women’s health and specifically their kidney health. World Kidney Day 2018 aims to promote affordable and equitable access to health education, healthcare and prevention for kidney diseases for all women and girls in the world.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) affects approximately 195 million women worldwide and it is currently the 8th leading cause of death in women, with close to 600,000 deaths each year. The risk of developing CKD is at least as high in women as in men, and may even be higher. According to some studies, CKD is more likely to develop in women as compared to men, with an average of 14% prevalence in women and 12% in men. However, the number of women on dialysis is lower than the number of men. At least three major reasons recognized so far are: CKD progression is slower in women compared to men, psycho-socioeconomic barriers such as lower disease awareness leading to a late start or absence of dialysis among women, and uneven access to care in countries with no universal access to healthcare. Kidney transplantation is also unequally spread, mostly due to social, cultural and psychological aspects. Even in some countries that provide kidney transplantation and equitable treatment for men and women, women tend to donate kidneys and are less likely to receive them. There is indeed a clear need to address issues of equitable healthcare access for women where it is currently lacking, and increase awareness and education to facilitate women’s access to treatment and better health outcomes.

CKD is also considered a risk factor for adverse pregnancy outcome and reduced fertility. Women who have CKD are at increased risk for negative outcomes for the mother and the baby. In successfully transplanted women, fertility can be restored and chances of successful birth increase. There is a clear need for higher awareness on CKD in pregnancy, to timely identify CKD in pregnancy, and to follow-up women with CKD during and after pregnancy.

With these facts in mind, the theme of World Kidney Day 2018, this year is ‘Kidneys & Women’s Health’.

Narmada Kidney Foundation has been organizing skit or short film competition, ‘Kidney Chronicles – Kissey Kidney Ke’, for last few years to celebrate World Kidney Day. ‘Kidney Chronicles – Kissey Kidney Ke.’, is open to all & is the best opportunity for everyone to spread the message of  Kidney care & Organ Donation. The competition is a chance to create social awareness while winning praise & prizes.

Narmada Kidney Foundation, has organized a short film competition “Kidney Chronicles – Kissey Kidney Ke” for the third consecutive year to celebrate World Kidney Day on 8^th March, 2018. The subjects for films this year will be on “Kidneys and Women’s wealth” and “Organ Donation”. The competition is also sub-divided into Short Duration Film, with run time of 3 to 7 min. & Short Films with 10 to 15 minutes duration.

“Kidney Chronicles – Kissey Kidney Ke”, short film competition will be held at Dadar Matunga Cultural Centre, Matunga, Mumbai at 5.30 pm onwards.

Written by : Rajan Patkar