FROM LEFT: Dr Essa Abdulla Abuhelaiqa, Consultant, Nephrology; Nayef Abboud Al Shammari, Assistant Executive Director Media; Dr Hassan Ali M H Al Malki, Senior Consultant, Medicine; Dr Mohamad Mahmood T A Alkadi, Consultant, Medicine; Teha Dham Al Mohanna
Doha: With at least 10 percent of Qatar’s population is affected by kidney disease, Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) is organising a series of events and activities designed to educate the community about the importance of good kidney health.
Activities will coincide with the World Kidney Day which is marked officially on March 14, under the theme ‘Kidney Health for Everyone Everywhere.’
“Kidney disease can affect people of all ages and races and individuals in the early stages of kidney disease often display very few, if any, symptoms. One in ten people in Qatar suffers from some form of kidney disease. Among them between 250 and 270 new patients start with dialysis every year,” said Dr Hassan Al Malki, Head of HMC’s Nephrology Department addressing a press conference yesterday.
At present a total of 950 adult patients are on dialysis across HMC hospitals. The signs and symptoms of kidney disease are often nonspecific. They can also be caused by other illnesses or can be mistaken for other health conditions.
“Signs and symptoms of kidney disease can include nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, fatigue, weakness, sleep problems, changes in how much you urinate, muscle twitches and cramps, swelling of the feet and ankles, and high blood pressure’” said Dr Al Malki.
Though the prevalence of kidney disease is high, Qatar has been at the forefront in kidney disease prevention, with the implementation of awareness campaigns designed to encourage the public to adopt a healthy lifestyle, widespread screenings and treatment of the major causes of kidney disease, including diabetes and high blood pressure.
Dr Mohamad Alkadi, Nephrology Consultant, said that HMC’s World Kidney Day activities will be held between March 8 and 19 and are designed to reach as many people as possible. “It is important that we use the occasion of World Kidney Day to educate members of the community about how important this vital organ is, and what they can do to protect it,” he said.
Among the events, a two-day symposium for healthcare workers on kidney health and HMC staff will visit schools and universities to raise awareness about the importance of good kidney health.
A health awareness booth at the main entrance of Hazm Mebaireek General Hospital, will be staffed by clinical teams who will provide members of the public with information leaflets and health education materials. Clinical teams will also provide basic health checks.
HMC will host health awareness booths at the main entrances of Hamad General, Al Wakra, and Al Khor Hospitals, as well as in Sidra Medicine. The booths will be staffed by clinical teams who will provide members of the public with information leaflets and health education materials and do basic health checks.
On March 15, a walkathon will take place at the Doha Corniche from 3pm. All members of the community are invited to attend. There will be entertainment and free health checks.
