World Kidney Day will be observed globally on March 12, placing renewed focus on chronic kidney disease, one of South Africa’s most underdiagnosed long-term health conditions.

Often silent in its early stages, kidney disease can progress unnoticed until it results in kidney failure, leaving patients dependent on dialysis or in need of a transplant.

In the lead-up to the day, Transplant Education for Living Legacies (Tell) is urging South Africans to think about kidney health not only as a medical issue, but also as a matter of environmental responsibility and equitable access to care.

According to the global World Kidney Day campaign, treatment for end-stage kidney disease, particularly dialysis, is highly resource-intensive.

Read more: The frontline defence in managing kidney health explained in Sandton

Stella de Kock, a Sandton-based managing director of Tell, has lived with kidney failure for the past 15 years.

She spent one year on peritoneal dialysis and the last 14 years on haemodialysis, undergoing approximately 2 400 dialysis sessions.

“A kidney transplant would not only restore my health and quality of life, but it would also end the ongoing environmental burden of lifelong dialysis. I actively recycle at home, and I cannot ignore the environmental impact of the treatment that sustains me.”

She added that for patients with kidney failure, transplantation is widely regarded as the best treatment option, offering longer survival, improved quality of life, and freedom from continuous dialysis.
De Kock stressed that expanding access to transplantation in South Africa is both a health and social justice issue.

@caxtonjoburgnorth Watch: Stella de Kock, on March 4, 2026, speaks about World Kidney Day in Sandton. Video: Duduzile Khumalo #Sandton #Worldkidneyday ♬ original sound – Caxton Joburg North

“Expanding access to kidney transplantation improves lives while significantly reducing the environmental footprint of lifelong dialysis,” she said.

She believes that improving equitable access to early and pre-emptive transplantation would ease pressure on already stretched health systems, reduce long-term environmental strain, and address disparities that often determine who receives care.

Tell is reminding South Africans that kidney protection begins long before dialysis or transplant lists.

Also read: Must-know basics of chronic kidney disease

Consistent hydration, especially during hot weather, plays a key role in kidney health. De Kock encourages families, schools, and workplaces to normalise water breaks, seek shade, and pay attention to simple indicators such as urine colour.

“Make hydration normal. Encourage water breaks, seek shade, and pay attention to simple signs like urine colour. Pale means hydrated. Dark means drink water,” De Kock said.

De Kock added that early detection remains one of the most powerful tools in kidney care. Simple blood and urine tests can identify kidney problems early, allowing timely treatment that slows progression and reduces the risk of complications.

As World Kidney Day on March 12 approaches, Tell is calling on South Africans to connect personal health choices with broader environmental and equity concerns.
“Water, shade, early care, and equitable treatment save lives and protect our planet,” said De Kock.

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