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In a continued effort to increase awareness and prevent chronic kidney disease, the Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (SEHA) and its healthcare facilities will mark World Kidney Day by launching multiple activities and learning programs to educate both patients and visitors on the dangers of chronic kidney disease and how to prevent it. World Kidney Day is a joint global initiative by the International Society of Nephrology and the International Kidney Foundation.
With the theme “Protect your kidneys and save your heart” Al Rahba Hospital kicked the event off with a lecture for primary caregivers on chronic kidney disease prevention.
Both Al Rahba Hospital and Mafraq Hospital will host multiple prevention centers stationed at the hospital’s main entrance offering free checkups and health screenings for blood pressure, blood sugar and albumin levels – a key indicator of healthy kidney function. Dieticians will also be on hand to give nutritional advice for kidney patients and to distribute educational kits to visitors.
“Chronic kidney disease has been classified as one of the growing health concerns in the UAE” said Timothy Dentry, Chief Executive Officer, Al Rahba Hospital. “Through this event, we aim to educate patients and visitors on the importance of proper nutrition, regular medical checkups, and early treatment of kidney problems, which are vital to avoid complicated kidney problems in the future.”
“Early detection is important,” said Dr. Anwar Sallam, Acting Chief Medical Officer, Mafraq Hospital. “By offering these free programs on World Kidney Day, we hope to help patients avoid any long-term complications.”
To educate children on the importance of lifelong kidney health, Al Gharbia Hospital will conduct tours of its kidney units for students grade seven and above. Al Gharbia will also host a football match at Al Dhafra Sports Club to highlight the importance of physical activity for lifelong health.
“Lifelong care is vital for chronic kidney disease prevention,” said Dr. Basher Hamza, deputy Chief medical officer, Al Gharbia Hospitals. “One of the causes of kidney failure is diabetes mellitus, a condition characterized by high blood sugar levels. Over time, this damages the kidney’s ability to filter. To prevent kidney disease, we recommend proper diet and exercise.
To better educate physicians and nurses on chronic kidney disease risk, Sheikh Khalifa Medical City is hosting a series of lectures for its staff on early detection and prevention.
“Early detection is crucial,” said Dr. Abdul Karim Saleh, Chair of Renal Unit and Chair of Education Department, Sheikh Khalifa Medical City. “Once we detect a problem, we can implement a treatment regimen before kidney damage manifests itself through other medical complications.”
Along with the educational programs for hospital staff, Sheikh Khalifa Medical City has also setup a booth at the hospital’s main entrance to educate visitors on prevention and early screenings. The hospital is also hosting a public event today at Family Park on the Abu Dhabi Corniche.
To reach a wider audience, Tawam Hospital will launch a public education campaign at Badawi Mall. Hospital staff will distribute leaflets and brochures highlighting the causes of chronic kidney disease and how it can be prevented. Medical professionals will be on hand to answer questions and offer advice on overall kidney health.
“The main job of the kidneys is to remove waste from the blood and return the newly cleaned blood back to the body,” said Dr. Samra Abouchacra, Tawam’s Director of Nephrology, Tawam Hospital “Kidney failure occurs when the kidneys can no longer perform this vital function. Kidneys might not receive the attention that many other health concerns do, but their ability to adequately function is absolutely vital to overall health. That’s the message we are taking to Badawi Mall on World Kidney Day.”
Dr. Ali AbdelKareem Al Obaidli Chief Clinical Affairs Officer at SEHA, stressed the importance of overall kidney health and how World Kidney Day fits into SEHA’s ongoing effort to prevent chronic kidney disease.
“We aim through our annual celebration of World Kidney Day to raise awareness of the importance of early detection of kidney disease for the appropriate treatment,” he added. “We strongly encourage everyone to undergo simple screenings to better understand their kidney health. We’re launching these programs across SEHA’s facilities in order to diagnose kidney problems and implement treatment regimens before they lead to severe health complications, and we hope the community will take part.”
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