March 13, 2025
World Kidney Day 2025 is here!
Throughout March, we observe Kidney Health Month in Canada, and on March 13 we mark World Kidney Day (WKD). The theme for the WKD 2025 campaign is “Are Your Kidneys OK? Detect early, protect kidney health.”
As we share stories and resources here and on social media to amplify WKD’s message about the importance of screening and early detection, the Can-SOLVE CKD Network joins a global movement focused on raising awareness around kidney health and calling for action on the silent epidemic of kidney disease.
In this newsletter, the story of patient partner Dwight Sparkes reminds us of how kidney disease often progresses unnoticed until advanced stages, making early detection and intervention essential. We also look at the past, present, and future of Kidney Check, a point-of-care screening program that has helped provide access to early detection and treatment plans for kidney disease in rural and remote Indigenous communities in four provinces.
How routine tests led to a kidney health wake-up call
Regular testing for people at high risk for kidney disease can prevent kidney failure and improve quality of life. Can-SOLVECKD patient partner Dwight Sparkes learned this firsthand when blood and urine tests following a diagnosis of systemic vasculitis revealed he had chronic kidney disease. In this story for World Kidney Day 2025, Dwight speaks to the importance of testing and regular monitoring to protect kidney health and slow the progression of kidney disease.
Kidney Check – a community-centred screening program making a difference in Indigenous communities
The Kidney Check program provides early kidney disease screening for Indigenous communities in rural and remote areas,helping to detect issues before they progress to advanced stages. By integrating cultural approaches and local decision-making, the program ensures equitable access to care while also reducing long-term healthcare costs. Learn about the Manitoba Kidney Check program, how it’s been received, and why this community-centred approach to kidney screening is so valuable.
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