“The time is now: Paving the way for optimal kidney care”
The first-year students of the Doctor of Medicine (MD) program of Gulf Medical University observed World Kidney Day on April 29, 2024. The event was dedicated to raise awareness about the importance of kidney health and reducing the impact of kidney disease and its associated health problems worldwide. The aim was to educate the university population about the risk factors, preventive measures and management of kidney diseases.
The campaign highlighted the significance of early detection and intervention to prevent kidney diseases and their complications. It also emphasized the importance of a healthy lifestyle including maintaining a balanced diet, staying physically active, managing blood pressure and sugar levels, avoiding tobacco use, and staying adequately hydrated to promote kidney health.
“World Kidney Day isn’t just about raising awareness and empowering people to take control of their health, but, I believe we can all play a role in this effort whether through educating ourselves and others, supporting those with kidney disease, or advocating for better healthcare access”, said one first year MD student proudly.
The event focused on four key objectives: to recognize chronic kidney disease as a global health priority, highlight the most common chronic kidney diseases prevalent in the community, methods for their early detection, and optimal therapeutic management including quality of care and medications. The activity was guided by the faculty of College of Medicine from the Biomedical Sciences and Community Medicine departments, Dr. Ghada Elgarawany, Dr. Salma Naqvi and Dr. Jayakumary Muttappallymyalil, whose expertise and commitment enriched the experience for students, promoting an environment of learning and engagement.
Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is a progressive condition that affects >10% of the general population worldwide numbering >800 million individuals. It is more prevalent in older individuals, women, racial minorities, and people experiencing diabetes mellitus and hypertension. It represents a substantial burden in low- and middle-income countries which are least equipped to deal with its consequences. CKD has emerged as one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide and it is one of the non-communicable diseases that is increasingly associated with deaths over the past 2 decades.
“A remarkable 98.9% of participants were overall satisfied with this event. Students are doing excellent work on educating the community on CKD. The success of our event is a testament to the meticulous efforts and unwavering dedication of each team member who worked tirelessly within the given time frame”, said Dr. Jayakumary Muttappallymyalil, the Head of Community Engagement activities of College of Medicine.
“The importance of community engagement should be emphasized from day 1 in the medical curriculum to be effective in the long run to achieve our objective to graduate socially accountable doctors”, said Prof. Manda Venkatraman, Vice Chancellor Academics and Dean, College of Medicine, who is also the Chairman of the Community Engagement Committee of Gulf Medical University.
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