DHAKA, March 11, 2026 (BSS) - World Kidney Day will be observed tomorrow in the country as elsewhere across the globe with various programmes.
 
The day is observed every year on the second Thursday of March. The theme of this year's observance is "Healthy Kidneys for All: Care for People, Protect the Planet." 

Marking the day, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Bangladesh Medical University and different organizations have undertaken various awareness programmes. 

Meanwhile, Insaf Barakah Kidney and General Hospital has arranged a month-long free medical camp on the occasion of World Kidney Day. 

Doctors at the camp will provide free medical consultations.

Globally, around 85 crore people are suffering from chronic kidney disease. In Bangladesh, nearly 3.82 crore people are affected by kidney-related diseases in various forms. 

Poverty, lack of awareness, limited access to healthcare services and unhealthy lifestyles are aggravating the problem. 

Uncontrolled diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, nephritis, unhealthy dietary habits, smoking, excessive use of painkillers, congenital and hereditary kidney diseases, urinary tract infections and kidney stones are among the major causes of kidney disease.

Every year, about 40,000 kidney patients become dependent on dialysis in the country. Around 30,000 to 40,000 patients suffer kidney failure annually.

Nearly 80 percent of new patients die due to lack of proper treatment or without receiving any medical care.

Currently, kidney disease ranks as the eighth leading cause of death worldwide and it is projected to become the fifth leading cause by 2040, raising serious concerns for public health and healthy living.