With the theme “Healthy Kidneys for All, Save the Earth for the sake of the people”, a kidney disease awareness rally was held on the occasion of World Kidney Day 2026 from the front yard of B Block of Bangladesh Medical University, BMU, on Thursday, March 12, 2026. The rally toured various parts of the campus. The rally was inaugurated by Professor Dr. Md. Nazrul Islam, Convener of Bangladesh Renal Association. Bangladesh Renal Association Member Secretary Dr. Md. Farhad Hasan Chowdhury, Treasurer Dr. Md. Abdul Mukit, Organizing Secretary Dr. Md. Rezaul Alam, Joint Convener Dr. Shahnewaz Dewan, Associate Professor Dr. Mezbah Uddin Noman and others were present. After the rally, a seminar was held at Shaheed Dr. Milton Hall. There, there was a call for increasing awareness of kidney disease prevention, expanding early detection and screening, including and strengthening kidney services in the primary health system, increasing public awareness about kidney transplantation, and making posthumous kidney transplantation successful. The speakers also said that if the universal health care announced by the current Honorable Prime Minister Mr. Tarique Rahman is implemented, there will be important changes in kidney disease prevention, rapid detection and treatment. Because kidney disease grows silently for a long time and the disease takes on a complex form due to lack of timely testing and treatment.
At the rally organized on the occasion of Kidney Day, speakers emphasized the importance of preventing kidney disease. They said that although the treatment of kidney disease is very expensive, the cost of diagnosis is negligible. Therefore, more importance should be given to diagnosis. Kidney treatment in a family is a very expensive treatment. This expense is not only on the individual patient or the patient’s family, but providing this treatment support is a very difficult task for the entire nation and the government. Therefore, as doctors, as the guardians of our health services, the Ministry of Health must take appropriate measures to cure kidney disease. One thing is for sure, the treatment of kidney disease is as expensive as the diagnosis of kidney disease, but it is an easier process. It is very capable of identifying a kidney patient through just a urine test. If we can reach this information and this technology to every union sub-center, upazila health complex, sadar hospital, medical college, diabetic care center, then the detection of kidney disease will become much easier. The cure for kidney disease will also come within our capabilities. This year’s theme is, “Healthy kidneys for everyone, save the planet by caring for people.”
In his speech, Bangladesh Renal Association Convener Professor Dr. Md. Nazrul Islam said, there is no alternative to creating public awareness to prevent silent kidney disease. To prevent kidney disease, adulterated food should not be consumed. Weight should be controlled. High blood pressure and diabetes should be controlled.
Other speakers said that according to a systematic review of 8 studies published in 2019, the number of kidney disease sufferers in Bangladesh is 22.48 percent. If this information is correct in this country of 170 million people, the number of kidney patients is about 38.2 million and this number is increasing rapidly. Every year, 30 to 40 thousand patients suffer from kidney failure due to this disease. About 80 percent of new patients die due to lack of necessary treatment or without treatment. Currently, this disease ranks eighth in death and by 2040, kidney disease will occupy the fifth place as a cause of death, which has become a cause of concern for the healthy life of people and public health.
It is worth mentioning that earlier on March 8, 2026, a mobile open-top vehicle for kidney disease awareness was inaugurated on the eve of World Kidney Day 2026 at the front yard of B Block of Bangladesh Medical University (BMU). There, expert doctors commented that if kidney disease is not identified at the beginning, it is a great loss for the patient. In addition, on March 11, 2026, a public awareness discussion meeting on kidney disease was held at the auditorium of the National Institute of Kidney Disease and Urology in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar.