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 new and refreshed campaigns, 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 new campaign connected to our refreshed KidneyHealthCheck.ca site with objectives of:

  • raising awareness about kidney disease risk factors
  • directing people to complete our refreshed kidney health self-assessment 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 buses!

REALITY: One in 10 Canadians has some degree of kidney disease, and it’s one of the fastest growing illnesses in BC.

Myth vs. Reality

Our Myth vs. Reality campaign has been refreshed for 2022 and covers four key myths and realities, including encouraging information such as, “If diagnosed early, many people are able to slow the course of the disease with the support of their kidney care team. This includes taking medication, eating a healthy diet and getting regular exercise."

British Columbians who complete our Kidney Health Self-Assessment quiz in March can enter to win an Apple Watch!

#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 10th, our focus will be on World Kidney Day and this year’s theme of Bridging the Knowledge Gap to Better Kidney Care!

While we work hard on bridging the knowledge gap all year long, we’re looking forward to this global awareness day to remind kidney patients and health professionals about the many resources we have available via our website: handouts, videos, tools, guidelines, research, educational events and more!

We encourage you to explore Health Info, Research, Health Professionals, and Learning and Events. Also see our News & Stories section for highlights of many resources and some of the dedicated BC Renal network members who are involved in developing them. Check out our Patient and Family Engagement section to learn about how patients, family members and other caregivers help shape better kidney care.

For more about Bridging the Gap to Better Kidney Care from a global perspective, see WorldKidneyDay.org!

Partner Initiatives

Can-SOLVE CKD Network

With BC Renal as a key partner, the Can-SOLVE CKD Network Kidney Check program is an excellent example of bridging the gap to better kidney care by partnering with First Nations communities. Learn more

Kidney Foundation of Canada – BC & Yukon Branch

There’s still time to buy Virtual Access Passes to the March 5th online Kidney Gala! Buy these tickets up until 11:59 PM on March 4th. These $100 passes are available nationwide (tax receipt provided) and come with access to the livestream, raffle, door prize/social media draw and online auction! Learn more

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 bridging the knowledge gap to better kidney care, kidney health and kidney disease prevention.”
     
  • Share our online kidney health self-assessment quiz with family and friends by referring them to KidneyHealthCheck.ca! It takes under two minutes and during the month of March, British Columbians who complete the quiz can enter to win an Apple Watch!
     
  • 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/Bridging the Knowledge Gap background here.
     

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