World Kidney Day Rally Raises Renal Risk Awareness in Bangladesh
Marking World Kidney Day 2026 under the theme “Healthy Kidneys for All, Save the Earth Through Human Care,” a kidney disease awareness rally was held on Thursday, 12 March, starting from the Banyan Tree premises in front of B Block of Bangladesh Medical University (BMU). The rally marched through various parts of the campus. The three-day program organized by the Bangladesh Renal Association concluded with a seminar following the rally.
The rally was inaugurated in the morning by Professor Dr. Md. Nazrul Islam, Convener of the Bangladesh Renal Association. Among those present were Dr. Md. Farhad Hasan Chowdhury, Member Secretary of the association; Dr. Md. Abdul Mukit, Treasurer; Dr. Md. Rezaul Alam, Organizing Secretary; Joint Convener Dr. Shahnewaz Dewan; and Associate Professor Dr. Mezbah Uddin Noman, among others.
After the rally, a seminar was held at Shaheed Dr. Milton Hall, where speakers emphasized the need to increase awareness about kidney disease prevention, expand early detection and screening, integrate and strengthen kidney care within the primary healthcare system, raise public awareness about kidney transplantation, and promote successful posthumous kidney donation.
Speakers also said that the implementation of universal healthcare announced by the current Prime Minister, Mr. Tarique Rahman, would bring significant changes in the prevention, early detection, and treatment of kidney diseases. They noted that kidney disease often progresses silently for a long time and becomes severe due to the lack of timely testing and treatment.
During the rally-related gathering organized for World Kidney Day, speakers stressed the importance of preventing kidney disease. They pointed out that while the treatment of kidney disease is extremely expensive, the cost of diagnosis is minimal. Therefore, greater emphasis must be placed on early diagnosis. Kidney treatment imposes a heavy financial burden not only on patients and their families but also on the nation and the government. As guardians of the healthcare system, speakers urged the Ministry of Health to take appropriate measures to address kidney disease.
They highlighted that although treatment is costly, diagnosing kidney disease is relatively simple. A basic urine test can identify many kidney patients. If such diagnostic information and technology can be made available at union sub-centers, upazila health complexes, district hospitals, medical colleges, and diabetic care centers, the identification of kidney disease would become significantly easier and its treatment more manageable.
In his presidential remarks, Professor Dr. Md. Nazrul Islam, Convener of the Bangladesh Renal Association, said that there is no alternative to raising public awareness to prevent kidney disease, which he described as a “silent killer.” He advised avoiding adulterated food, maintaining proper body weight, and controlling high blood pressure and diabetes to prevent kidney disease.
Other speakers noted that according to a systemic review of eight studies published in 2019, the prevalence of kidney disease in Bangladesh stands at 22.48 percent. If this figure is applied to the country’s population of 170 million, the number of kidney patients would be approximately 38.2 million, and the number is increasing rapidly. Every year, 30,000 to 40,000 patients develop kidney failure. Nearly 80 percent of new patients die due to lack of treatment or inadequate access to care. Currently, kidney disease ranks eighth among causes of death, and by 2040 it is expected to rise to fifth place, posing a serious concern for public health and healthy living.
Earlier, on 8 March, a mobile open-roof awareness vehicle campaign on kidney disease was inaugurated at the Banyan Tree premises in front of B Block of Bangladesh Medical University ahead of World Kidney Day 2026. On that occasion, specialist doctors warned that failure to detect kidney disease at an early stage could cause severe harm to patients. In addition, on 11 March, a public awareness discussion on kidney disease was held at the auditorium of the National Institute of Kidney Diseases and Urology at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar.
DBTech/MNI/EK/OR
