World Kidney Day – 2023: kidney health for all — preparing for the unexpected, supporting the vulnerable

The article presents the history of World Kidney Day 2006—2023. The World Kidney Day, which started in 2006, has become an annual successful initiative of the International Society of Nephrologists, the International Federation of Kidney Foundations to inform the world community and politicians, healthcare about the importance of kidneys for general health, to raise awareness about the significance and consequences of congenital, hereditary and acquired kidney diseases, chronic kidney disease, to adopt a strategy, aimed at reducing the frequency, severity and impact of kidney diseases on health and life. The global nature of the problem of kidney disease in children and adults is evidenced by the fact that in 2011 the Political Declaration on Non-infectious diseases, approved at the summit of the World Healthcare Organization, included kidney disease under paragraph 19. Chronic kidney disease is the 6^th cause of death in the world. The annual campaign of World Kidney Day 2006–2023 poses medical and socio-economic problems of global importance and reminds that kidney diseases affecting children and adults are common, dangerous and curable. World Kidney Day – 2023, under the motto: Kidney Health for all — preparedness for the unexpected, support for the vulnerable discusses the impact of disasters, in particular the COVID-19 pandemic, on the provision of specialized nephrological care to the population and its resources around the world.