On every other Thursday in March, the Association of Nephrologists of the Republic of Srpska marks World Kidney Day for the sixth year in a row. The slogan for this year’s campaign is “Kidney Health for All”.

Chronic kidney disease and its final stadium – terminal renal insufficiency represent global health problems. Ten percent of adult population worldwide are suffering from certain stage of kidney disease. Among one million people, an average number of those that undergo haemodialysis is one hundred (patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis or transplant patients). It also represents economic problem of society.

Large number of people suffering from this disease does not have symptoms in the early stage of the disease. These symptoms are also totally non-specific in a terminal phase (fatigue, lack of concentration, loss of appetite, swelling of the extremities). In its early stage, the disease can be detected by conducting laboratory blood and urine tests. Timely treatment prevents advancement of the disease (end-stage renal failure and dialysis). It is of special importance that patients with chronic diseases such as diabetes and hypertension as well as people whose family members had serious kidney diseases and people that live on the territory of endemic nephropathy undergo regular medical examinations. World Kidney Day has been marked since 2006 and it is a joint initiative of ISN (International Society of Nephrology) and IFKF (International Federation of Kidney Foundation).