It’s Kidney Health Month! Every March, we run special campaigns to raise awareness about kidney health, kidney disease prevention, and early diagnosis of kidney disease. Sharing information, tools and resources, these campaigns:

  • Promote kidney health and overall health and well-being
  • Provide vital information to help prevent life-threatening kidney failure

This is so important considering:

  • 1 in 10 British Columbians are living with kidney disease and many don’t know it
  • You can lose up to 80% of kidney function before you notice any symptoms

We’re excited to be partnering once again with the Kidney Foundation of Canada – BC & Yukon Branch for our “Could you be the 1 in 10?” campaign, and we’re pleased to promote additional campaigns of the Kidney Foundation, the Can-SOLVE CKD Network, the PKD Foundation of Canada and more!

Public Awareness Campaigns

Could you be the 1 in 10?

This is our campaign connected to our KidneyHealthCheck.ca site with objectives of:

  • Raising awareness about kidney disease risk factors
  • Directing people to complete our kidney health check quiz, available in English, Chinese (中文) and Punjabi (ਪੰਜਾਬੀ), which helps you learn if you should visit a family doctor and potentially get a simple blood test.

Keep your eye out for this campaign on:

  • Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
  • Chinese and Punjabi online media
  • Lower Mainland transit!

#KidneyHealthChallenge

We’re running our popular #KidneyHealthChallenge campaign via BC Renal’s Facebook and Twitter and PHSA’s Instagram to share 31 food, fluid and lifestyle tips for the general population. (Fluid and food tips aren't intended for kidney patients.) Each daily post links followers with the #KidneyHealthChallenge booklet that explains a bit more about each tip and connections to kidney health. Take the challenge!

World Kidney Day

On March 9th, our focus will be on World Kidney Day and this year’s theme of Kidney Health for All, Preparing for the Unexpected, Supporting the Vulnerable!

In the event of emergencies, people with kidney disease are among the most vulnerable in the population due to their ongoing requirements for consistently coordinated care – care, which is often lifelong and involves complex ongoing treatment. 

BC Renal encourages kidney patients, their families and care partners, as well as kidney care clinicians and health professionals to explore the Emergency Preparedness sections of the BC Renal website where there are many resources to help dialysis patients in particular, and everyone, prepare for natural disasters and other major emergencies that can impact the health system:

For patients: Emergency Preparedness

For health professionals: Emergency Preparedness

For more about Kidney Health for All, Preparing for the Unexpected, Supporting the Vulnerable from a global perspective, see WorldKidneyDay.org.

Partner Initiatives for Kidney Patients

Kidney Foundation of Canada

March 8-9 Virtual Patient Forum: Living Your Best Life with Kidney Disease. This event for patients and their care partners includes several workshops for accessing financial support, dealing with symptoms of chronic kidney disease (CKD), self-advocacy, travel and insurance tips, CKD wellness and more. Includes a presentation by BC Renal’s Dr. Adeera Levin and Dan Martinusen as well as patient partner Lisa Huhn on new medications developed for kidney patients. Networking opportunities too! Visit the Patient Forum website today for more information and registration details!

Can-SOLVE CKD Network

Living well with kidney disease means managing dietary needs, mental health, medications and more – all of which can vary greatly for each person. To support patients in living their best lives, researchers have developed a new online self-management tool, the My Kidneys My Health website. One of the special features is that it allows patients to create their own, individualized self-management notes – for example, questions to bring up with their health care professionals. Many other features are included! Visit My Kidneys My Health to learn more and use the tool!

PKD Foundation of Canada

In honour of Kidney Health Month, the PKD Foundation of Canada is sharing daily challenges to take for those living with polycystic kidney disease and their supporters. Learn more and check out the interactive 31-day calendar at endpkd.ca/31days!

 

Get Involved in Our Campaigns!
  • Do you have Kidney Health Month or World Kidney Day photos or initiatives from around BC to share? Email bcrenal@bcrenal.ca or send us a message on Facebook or Twitter.
     
  • Forward this newsletter to anyone you think could benefit. Include an introductory note such as, “In case you haven’t already received this, I wanted to share BC Renal’s Kidney Health Month newsletter that helps raise awareness about kidney health, kidney disease risk factors, preparing for the unexpected and supporting the vulnerable.”
     
  • Share our online kidney health self-assessment quiz with family and friends by referring them to KidneyHealthCheck.ca! It takes under two minutes and could help save a life!
     
  • Follow us on Facebook or Twitter for more information throughout Kidney Health Month, and amplify our posts by Liking, Sharing and Commenting. Use hashtags #BCRenalNetwork #KidneyHealthMonth #WorldKidneyDay
     
  • If you have the ability to have a virtual background for your Zoom or other video calls, download the World Kidney Day/Kidney Health for All background here.
     

Wishing everyone a healthy month with lots of helpful new learning!