Sandwell Council Leader, Councillor Kerrie Carmichael, is calling for Sandwell residents to ‘wear something yellow’ today to support World Kidney Day.

One in ten people worldwide have kidney disease and 3 million people in the UK have chronic kidney disease (CKD). This could include you or someone you know. You can find out if you, a neighbour, a parent, or one of your children could be at risk of CKD by visiting worldkidneyday.co.uk.

By answering just three questions on the website, you can get tailored advice on protecting the kidney health of yourself or others. Councillor Carmichael said:

“Becoming ‘kidney aware’ has never been so easy. Whether you’re worried about a loved one, think you might be at risk or are a current CKD patient, we can all play our part in supporting awareness of kidney disease.”

World Kidney Day is an annual campaign to help raise awareness of kidneys and show the suffering caused when they don’t work properly. It also aims to educate people on what kidneys do and how to improve your kidney health.

You can mark World Kidney Day by wearing something yellow, turning your workspace yellow with bunting, balloons or ribbons or hosting an event. You can also take pictures and share them on social media, using the hashtag #kidneysmatter. Councillor Carmichael added:

“The isolation, loneliness and extra pressures of the Covid-19 pandemic have made life even more challenging for kidney patients and their families. This doesn’t just mean worries about their physical health, but the lasting financial impacts of being on dialysis or waiting for a transplant too.

“Having had a kidney transplant I know how kidney disease impacts on your life, relationships and emotional wellbeing. Imagine visiting the hospital three times a week for a four-hour dialysis session – how would you fit this around work, or looking after children, or going on holiday?”

To find out more about the healthy changes you can make in your life, visit Healthy Sandwell online or call 0800 011 4656 or 0121 569 5100.