The third World Kidney Day: looking back and thinking forward

Abstract

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world: Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.” — Margaret Mead March 13, 2008, heralds the third annual World Kidney Day (WKD), an event that will be celebrated in more than 60 countries. We take this opportunity to recount how this concept has gained worldwide traction and momentum and to reflect on the challenges faced by its creators and supporters. There have probably been many individuals who conceived of marking one calendar day in which to call attention to the seriousness of kidney disease globally; many may even have shared their thoughts with others, but there is one individual who not only conceived the idea but was persistent in persuading many in leadership positions to bring this notion—a World Kidney Day—to fruition. This individual is also the founder of the International Federation of Kidney Foundations (IFKF): Joel Kopple. He first conceived the idea of WKD in the spring of 2003, recognizing that chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a global, public health threat but is typically low on government health agendas; that it can be detected with simple and inexpensive tests yet national detection programs are rare; and that, although it can be treated with existing, effective therapies, few people with CKD receive appropriate health care. In September 2003, Kopple wrote to Warwick Prime, then President of the IFKF, and proposed an annual WKD. To make it truly an international collaborative effort, representatives of IFKF and the International Society of Nephrology (ISN) met in November 2003, and at that meeting, Kopple presented a precis entitled “Proposal for the Establishment of a World Kidney Day.” A WKD ISN-IFKF liaison committee was established, with the initial membership consisting of William Couser, John Dirks, Joel Kopple, Warwick Prime, and Jan …