ISN Advocacy Newsletter – Bridging the Gaps – October 2024
ISN Advocacy: Leading Kidney Health Globally
Dear members and allies,
Welcome to the latest 2024 edition of Bridging the Gaps, the ISN’s quarterly update on our global kidney health advocacy initiatives.
It was exciting to kick off the fall season with the launch of the year-long World Kidney Day campaign focused on “Are Your Kidneys OK? Detect Early, Protect Kidney Health.” The campaign will help raise awareness about the importance of kidney health and how early detection of kidney disease can save lives.
On September 19, the ISN launched its first global petition on kidney health, a significant milestone in our advocacy efforts. The petition urges all to help raise the profile of kidney disease. We’re counting on your support to sign it and share it far and wide — our goal is to gather 1 million signatures by year’s end!
September also saw the ISN make a powerful impact at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) 79 with our exhibit booth, a fireside chat, and an expert panel discussion. These activities successfully highlighted the human and economic burden of kidney disease, bringing the issue to the attention of the Member States present and advocating for kidney health to be included on the noncommunicable disease agenda.
I am delighted that the Professor Donal O’Donoghue Global Kidney Policy Forum is taking shape. The 2025 edition will focus on “Enhancing Kidney Health in South-East Asia: Bridging Gaps and Building Sustainable Solutions” and is scheduled for February 6, just before the official opening of WCN’25 in New Delhi, India.
Thank you for supporting our mission to advance kidney health worldwide. Together, we can make a lasting impact.
Warm regards,
Masaomi Nangaku
ISN President
On September 19, the ISN launched a worldwide petition calling for action on kidney health for all. Kidney disease is the third fastest-growing cause of death worldwide and, as the only noncommunicable disease with a rising mortality rate, now the 7th leading cause of death globally. In just a few years, it will become the 5th. With your support, we can urge world leaders to recognize kidney disease as a priority NCD, potentially saving millions of lives.
The annual World Kidney Day (WKD) campaign for 2025 officially launched on September 9. This year-long campaign features a day of global activities on March 13, 2025.
The 2025 campaign, “Are Your Kidneys OK? Detect Early, Protect Kidney Health,” highlights the importance of recognizing kidney disease risk factors and accessing timely testing to improve early detection and intervention.
This year, WKD will feature the ISN ‘Are Your Kidneys Healthy?’ quiz, which complements the 2025 theme. This valuable tool aims to raise awareness and prompt individuals to protect and assess their kidney health.
The 2025 WKD banners are now available on the WKD website – use them to inform your community that WKD 2025 has officially launched. Here are some other ways to support the WKD campaign:
- Share the WKD message with your community on social media – tag @WorldKidneyDay and use hashtags #WorldKidneyDay, #AreYourKidneysOK, #KidneyHealthMatters
- Organize or take part in a WKD activity to mark the day and pin it to the WKD interactive map
- Share a story for the WKD blog. Submit via email to emma@worldkidneyday.org or directly through your personal registration/login area on the WKD website
- Subscribe to the WKD newsletter to keep up to date with the 2025 campaign
- Become a WKD champion and help raise awareness about kidney disease in your region. More information on how to become a champion here.
On September 25, the ISN hosted dedicated activities to raise awareness of and drive action on kidney disease at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York.
An ISN exhibit booth, “Kidney Health Matters: Prioritizing the Silent Epidemic,” realized with the support from the ISN Strategic Partners, showcased data from the ISN Global Kidney Health Atlas to highlight the human and economic burden of kidney disease. ISN Advocacy Working Group Chair Valerie Luyckx co-hosted a fireside chat and presented at the ISN expert panel: “Transformative Health Policies for NCDs: Emphasizing the Importance of an Integrated Approach for Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolic Conditions.”
The event yielded highly positive outcomes. The Ministers of Health for Guatemala and Nepal, along with the Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare for Japan, visited the ISN exhibition booth and signed the pledge.
The 2025 Professor Donal O’Donoghue Global Kidney Policy Forum, “Enhancing Kidney Health in South-East Asia: Bridging Gaps and Building Sustainable Solutions,” will take place on February 6, just before the official opening of WCN’25 in New Delhi, India.
Panelists, including global health advocates, will discuss options for promoting kidney health by addressing the social determinants of health and strengthening primary care services. Topics will also cover options for managing kidney failure, kidney transplantation and conservative kidney care.
This year’s forum will include a dynamic two-hour session featuring expert panels and interactive Q&A discussions.
