World Kidney Day is an important global campaign that takes place every year on the second Thursday of March. Its main goal is to raise awareness about kidney health and to help lessen the impact of kidney disease. This initiative is organized by the International Society of Nephrology and the International Federation of Kidney Foundations – World Kidney Alliance. World Kidney Day focuses on promoting early detection, preventive measures, and education regarding kidney health. The 2025 theme is “Are Your Kidneys OK? – Detect early, protect kidney health,” which highlights the critical need for early diagnosis. With chronic kidney disease currently affecting about 850 million people around the globe and expected to become a leading cause of death by 2040, World Kidney Day urges everyone, particularly those at risk, to take proactive steps to safeguard their kidney health. The College of Medicine, Gulf Medical University observed World Kidney Day on the 13th of March, in collaboration with the Centre for Nephrology, Thumbay University Hospital, where students from the HDPCS, MD, BPT, and BBMS presented various topics regarding kidney health to the patients and visitors. The event was conducted at the foyer, First floor, Thumbay University Hospital.
World Kidney Day plays a crucial role in spreading awareness about kidney health. It encourages people to adopt screening for kidney disease early and adopt healthier habits. This day served as a valuable platform for healthcare professionals, students, and even patients to share insights and get together which helped in enhancing the knowledge and awareness. Students got the opportunity to learn more through doctors who visited and shared their knowledge and great pieces of advice.
The students, along with the faculty, were able to get together for several meetings to finalise topics and activities. A group of students delivered an impressive session on kidney health, diving into everything from the anatomy, epidemiology of kidney diseases, and risk factors along with who is mostly at risk and correlation with hypertension and cancer. Additionally, they presented ways to prevent and treat kidney-related issues such as kidney stone treatment, preventive measures, and herbal medications as well.
Each group brought their topics to life in a way that was both interactive and engaging, making sure the participants stayed captivated and involved throughout the sessions. One group kicked things off with a fun quiz that tested the participants’ knowledge on the subject. Another group got creative with an activity where participants matched pictures to the right questions, making the learning experience more tangible and memorable. One particularly unique and engaging activity featured a competitive game where participants picked stones from a cup using different utensils within a set time, with each stone representing a kidney stone. This got the participants involved in a lively, competitive spirit. Lastly, one group aimed to spread positivity and compassion by having participants write heartfelt messages for cancer patients. This activity was both touching and meaningful, giving the audience a chance to reflect on the importance of empathy and support.
Certain hospital visitors and patients were able to learn new information and understand the different aspects of kidney health. This, therefore, pushes for changes in the public’s point of view, urging the need to focus on preventing kidney disease, invest in research, and ensure better access to care. Bringing people together from all corners, it creates a united front to tackle kidney disease and boost overall public health and awareness.
Presenters at the World Kidney Day event showed great excitement and gratitude as they were able to gain valuable experience from this opportunity. As a student shared “It was a great experience with a lot to learn from,” to demonstrate the pleasant environment and the beneficial knowledge acquisition throughout the occasion. During their presentation about kidney health, the speakers learnt diverse features regarding the kidney as a student stated, “We came to know about the different aspects of kidneys from anatomy to pathology and epidemiology of kidney diseases.”. By comprehending the subject matter well, they were able to explain complicated information to others in an easy-to-understand manner. Through this occasion, the participants achieved significant improvements in their professional capabilities. “It helped to enhance our presentation skills and communication skills,” a student remarked, reflecting on how through this experience they developed better abilities to present themselves and present complex information effectively in front of audiences. Another student shared how this event carried great importance by stating, “The event showed us the central value of public education regarding kidney diseases and the overall importance of awareness”. Students found the event collaborative as they declared “it was well managed and very collaborative” to show how effective teamwork contributed to success. Some presenters got the chance to speak directly with patients, which strengthened the significance of their shared expertise. As one student commented, “I was so proud that I was able to explain the topic properly to the patient and in Arabic too!”. Throughout the experience, students developed a sense of growth as they prepared themselves to serve great importance and awareness for kidney health.
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