Posted on: 19 March 2025
World Kidney Day on Thursday 13 March and Living Donation Week (10–16 March) saw a range of activities across West Yorkshire, all focused on raising awareness of kidney health, early detection, and the life-changing impact of organ donation.
In Leeds, a one-stop shop at the Sikh Temple provided attendees with the chance to check their blood pressure and speak to healthcare professionals about diabetes, kidney health, and lifestyle advice. Similar health check opportunities were offered at St James’s Hospital, Leeds and at a Black Health Initiative charity event, ensuring that more people have access to vital information and support.
Across the region, champion events and a webinar focused on chronic kidney disease (CKD) in primary care, highlighted the importance of early detection and management.
Consultant Nephrologist and West Yorkshire Kidney Health Lead, Dr Sunil Daga, emphasised the importance of community engagement in promoting kidney health and increasing awareness of live kidney donation.
“Community engagement is key for promoting healthy kidneys and live kidney donation. By bringing health education and screening into familiar and accessible spaces - such as places of worship and community centres - we can reach people who may not otherwise seek medical advice until it's too late. Early detection and lifestyle changes can significantly reduce the risk of kidney disease and its complications. Additionally, raising awareness about live kidney donation is crucial in tackling the transplant waiting list and giving more people the chance of a healthier future.”
Spotlight on living donation
With over 6,000 people in the UK, including around 350 in West Yorkshire, waiting for a kidney transplant, Living Donation Week aimed to encourage people to learn more about the UK Living Kidney Sharing Scheme.
At Leeds Teaching Hospitals, the Renal and Liver Transplant teams held an awareness stand in Gledhow Wing, providing information on how living donors can transform lives by donating a kidney or part of their liver. The stand, focused on prevention and early detection, attracted over 80 attendees for blood pressure checks.
Keeping your kidneys healthy
We can all take steps to look after our kidneys by:
- Keeping blood sugar levels under control
- Controlling blood pressure
- Avoiding long-term use of painkillers like ibuprofen
- Stopping smoking to improve overall kidney and heart health
- Staying hydrated by drinking 6–8 glasses of water per day
- Maintaining a healthy weight through balanced eating
- Exercising regularly to improve circulation and kidney function
- Reducing salt intake by avoiding processed foods and not adding extra salt
Personal stories
To mark World Kidney Day, we also shared several blogs and video stories to raise awareness of CKD:
- Dr Indira H. Kasibhatla, Kirklees Place Lead for the Chronic Kidney Disease Project, shared her personal motivation to raise awareness after losing her father to CKD at just 60 years old
- Nina Davies, Alice Pennock, and Aamina Beebi highlighted the need for better prevention, diagnosis and treatment of CKD
- Geoff, a kidney transplant recipient, reflected on how organ donation gave him a second chance at life after renal failure nearly took it away
Additionally, five people from across West Yorkshire - Anneka, Bharti, Charlotte, Geoff, and Rehana -shared their experiences in a powerful video series, available to watch on our YouTube playlist. Their stories reinforce the crucial message: detect early. Protect your kidney health.
Wold Kidney Day aims to reduce the frequency and impact of kidney disease worldwide and their voices are helping to spread the message: the earlier you detect it, the better chance you have to protect your health and your future.
Check your risk of kidney disease with the Kidney Care UK’s Kidney Health Checker. People living with kidney disease can use Kidney Beam which is a free online platform which offers education, exercise advice and wellbeing support.