According to the MOH Media Information and Health Awareness Center, the total of artificial kidney centers pertinent to the Ministry has mounted to 140 centers, distributed to all the Kingdom's regions and provinces. Those centers, combined, include 3452 dialysis devices and 155 water treatment plants. The number of patients who received treatment at those centers in the past year amounted to 8843 patients, whereas the number of dialysis sessions was 1.379.508 sessions.
In a related context, the world is to celebrate the World Kidney Day on Jumada I 2nd, 1434H (corresponding to March 14th, 2013), under the theme: “Stop Kidney Attack!”. The World Kidney Day was first celebrated in 2006, and from that date on, the world still celebrates this world day with a different theme and certain massages every year. It aims at raising awareness of the main kidney diseases, treatment, possible prevention and unhealthy behaviors associated with kidney failure and diseases. Such unhealthy behaviors include smoking, physical inactivity, unhealthy diet like the excessive consumption of salt and fat; not to mention the great role of health social institutions and individuals in promoting kidney health awareness.
The Center added, “The kidneys' essential function is to filter the blood. All blood content in our bodies passes through the kidneys several times a day. The kidneys remove wastes, control the body's fluid balance, and regulate the balance of electrolytes. As the kidneys filter blood, by way of creating urine, which collects in the kidneys' pelvis connected to the ureters through a bladder, thus draining urine outside the body.”
The Center further explained that kidneys are susceptible to a diversity of diseases and disorders, including pyelonephritis (inflammation of kidney pelvis), glomerulonephritis, nephrolithiasis (kidney stones), nephrotic syndrome, polycystic kidney disease, chronic renal failure, end stage renal disease (ESRD), diabetic nephropathy, kidney cancer, and many other disorders that might afflict the kidney.
For the sake of prevention of such diseases, the Media Information and Health Awareness Center placed particular emphasis on “taking a look at the instructions put down in the drug leaflet prior to taking it, especially painkillers. And whenever undergoing any kidney-associated disorders, the doctor's instructions have to be strictly adhered to, in order for such disorders to be overcome, Allah willing, without affecting the kidney. It is also of crucial importance to adopt a healthy diet, exercise, quit smoking, as well as having healthy food and pure water.”
Moving on to the treatment of kidneys in general, the Center made clear that the treatment varies in accordance with each disorder and case. It could take the form of antibiotics, or dissolution of kidney stones, by means of the ultrasound radiation, which has proven useful in kidney-stones dissolution, and, hence, getting it out of the body. Among the treatment methods, also, is the nephrectomy (removal of the kidney), whenever afflicted by cancer or acute inflammations (Allah forbid!) That's to be added to dialysis and kidney transplantation.
“Kidney patients will have also to follow certain diets,” the Center further explained, “with the purpose of alleviating the burden on the kidneys once affected by any disease, by way of reducing the quantity of the intake of high nutrients foods, especially those rich with protein, sodium (salt), and phosphor.”
Furthermore, it drew close attention to pivotal importance of determining and measuring the intake of liquids, given that the accumulation of liquids may lead to swelling. The intake of liquids, besides, should be commensurate with each disease, whereupon the kidney patient must strictly abide by the doctor's prescribed intake of liquids.
It should be noted that the World Kidney Day is meant to attain certain targets, including raising people's awareness and educating them about kidneys, highlighting that diabetes and high blood pressure (hypertension) are key risk factors for chronic kidney disease (CKD), encouraging periodic screening on all patients with diabetes and hypertension for CKD, and encouraging preventive behaviours. That's to be added to educating all health practitioners about their key role in detecting and diminishing the risk of CKD, particularly for those susceptible to kidney diseases. The World Kidney Day seeks also to underscore the role of national health bodies in combating kidney diseases, as well as prompting organ donation, in an endeavor to maintain kidney patients' lives.
The Director of the MOH Media Information and Health Awareness Center, Ph. Amal bint Mo'awiyah Abul-Jadayel, for her part, has affirmed that the Center is fully ready for receiving any questions or inquiries that have to do with kidney diseases (as well as any other diseases), through the toll-free number: 8002494444, dedicated by the Ministry of Health (MOH) for inquiries put forward by the public, diseased and healthy people alike. “There is an integrated work team for providing apt answers for the inquiries submitted to the MOH account on Twitter (@SAUDIMOH),” Dr. Abul-Jadayel concluded.