People should become aware of the increasing number of renal patients in the Kingdom for its prevention and treatment, observed Prince Abdul Aziz bin Salman, supervisor general of the Prince Fahd bin Salman Charitable Society for the Care of Kidney Failure Patients.
The prince was speaking at the launch of a three-day campaign, titled “Kidney Health for All,” to mark World Kidney Day in the Kingdom.
This year, the Kingdom joined 90 countries around the world to observe World Kidney Day.
The event was organized by the Prince Salman Center for Kidney Diseases in association with the Prince Fahd bin Salman Charitable Society for the Care of Kidney Failure Patients under the auspices of the Health Ministry.
Health Minister Ahmad Al-Khateeb and senior officials from the sponsoring organizations and from the Saudi Center for Organ Transplantation (SCOT) were present. Following the launch, the prince and health minister jointly viewed an exhibition to highlight the causes, prevention and treatment of renal diseases in the Kingdom.
More than 25 exhibitors from reputable medical firms took part in the show arranged by event sponsors. The three-day program will include lectures, demonstrations and dialogues among participating delegates.
Prince Abdul Aziz said there is an average growth of 9 percent in kidney patients in the Kingdom. Quoting statistics from SCOT, the prince pointed out that there are more than 17,000 patients, of whom 15,600 patients receive hemodialysis, while 1,500 patients receive peritoneal dialysis.
“There are 2,400 primary health care centers (PHC) in the Kingdom which help patients identify renal diseases at an early stage and refer them to specialized health facilities,” Al-Khateeb said.
In addition, there are 3,400 dialysis machines in 143 centers throughout the Kingdom. The minister said the dialysis centers will be increased to 167 to reach the patients living in remote towns and villages.
Al-Khateeb said the world spends colossal sums for the prevention and treatment of kidney diseases in their respective countries.
“These countries conduct research on the prevention of kidney diseases and organize awareness campaigns regularly to control the spread of the kidney diseases,” he said.
According to the World Health Organization, he said it is estimated that some $1 trillion will be sent for treatment of kidney diseases in the world during the next 10 years.
Diabetes and hypertension are the two main causes of renal diseases, he added, and it is predicted that another 300 million people will be affected with diabetes and hypertension globally by 2025.
The health minister stressed the role of the media for the National Kidney Diseases Awareness Campaign launched last week in the capital.

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