World Kidney Day activities held at Katara yesterday. Pic: Qassim Rahmatullah / The Peninsula
Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) held a walkathon at Katara, the Cultural Village, yesterday as part of the World Kidney Day (WKD), which was observed on Thursday under the theme ‘Kidney Disease – A Healthy Lifestyle for Healthy Kidneys’.
The half an hour walkathon was led by Dr Hassan Al Malki, Head of Nephrology Department at HMC, and was aimed at increasing awareness about the impact obesity, a sedentary lifestyle and poor dietary choices can have on kidneys. Students from schools, universities, healthcare providers and the public took part in the walkathon.
Also, several educational activities took place at Katara that highlighted the importance of an active lifestyle in maintaining kidney health. The HMC Ambulance Service held demonstrations on first aid and lifesaving techniques such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
“The World Kidney Day is very important for the whole world. It highlights the importance of kidney health and how people should care for their kidneys. So we always try to prevent before the disease develops,” said Dr Abubakr Imam, Head Pediatric Nephrology at HMC.
Kidney disease can affect people of any age and gender and is more likely to develop in obese people including those with diabetes and hypertension. “This year, the concentration is on obesity and kidney diseases; it applies to children, adolescents and the adults. Kidney disease is associated with diabetes, as well as other diseases like hypertension but there is a big relationship between obesity and the health of the person, especially the kidneys. We advise people to adopt a healthy lifestyle to prevent consequences,” said Dr Imam.
“There are two aspects to kidney diseases and obesity. One is that obesity can cause kidney diseases, and those who are having kidney problems their condition becomes worse if they are obsese. We get many patients who come to us with obesity, hypertension and kidney diseases,” he added.
Informative pamphlets were distributed to the visitors and there was free screening for diabetes and hypertension.
“If we find anyone with high blood sugar or pressure levels, we refer them for a follow-up check to find out if it was a random increase or substantial one. But if the numbers are very high and unusual, we directly take care of them at HMC,” said Dr Imam. Around 10 percent of the world’s population is affected by chronic kidney diseases and it is estimated that the disease affects 13 percent of Qatar’s population.
Some 200 new cases of kidney diseases are reported each year at HMC and nearly 1,000 patients with kidney diseases are on dialysis and another 140 are on waiting list for transplant. Separately, around 10 children are in need of dialysis or a transplant.
