Press Release, March 10, 2008

For immediate release

The Renal Program at SKMC hosts the Main Activities of the World Kidney Day in cooperation with SEHA

As part of the ongoing commitment of Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (SEHA) and Sheikh Khalifa Medical City (SKMC) to support and raise awareness regarding kidney disease prevention, SKMC managed by Cleveland Clinic celebrates the “World Kidney Day “on Friday, March 14, 2008 in a joint initiative with Emirates Medical Association – Nephrology. Participants are invited from the Ministry of Health, Department of Health and Medical Services in Dubai, all Nephrology teams in public and private hospitals in the United Arab Emirates, all nephrology patients and their families, and the general public.  

Globally, more than 500 million individuals, or about one adult in ten, have some form of chronic kidney disease. Since chronic kidney diseases increase the risk of renal failure, cardiovascular disease, and stroke, up to 36 million people will prematurely die by the year 2015. The World Kidney Day 2008 aims to raise awareness about the importance of our kidneys – the amazing organs that play a crucial role in keeping us alive and well – and to spread the message that kidney diseases are common, harmful, and treatable. The World Kidney Day was launched for the first time in 2006 and it is usually held on the second Thursday of March. However, SKMC is celebrating it this year on Friday, 14  March.

To mark the 2nd annual “World Kidney Day” celebrated in SKMC, the Renal Program team at SKMC has organized several activities and check-up stations at Khalifa Park in Abu Dhabi.  Free blood pressure, height, and weight checks will be offered, and educational brochures and pamphlets on Kidney Diseases will be distributed on Friday, 14 March from 04:00 pm until 11:00 pm. Doctors and nurses will be available at the park to help the public and educate them about their kidneys.

 Mr. Saif Bader Al Qubaisi, Managing Director of Abu Dhabi Health Services Company – SEHA, stated that this event marks the second participation of SKMC in the “World Kidney Day”. However, it is the first year we have led the most significant of the nation-wide activities in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and this has been organized by SKMC in cooperation with SEHA. We are devoted to raising awareness on health and disease prevention. We are also keen for this event to educate the public about the importance of kidneys and how to keep them healthy”.

 From SKMC side, Dr. Scott Strong, Chief Medical Officer, commented on the Renal Program at SKMC. He said “the Renal Program comprises the Renal Dialysis Units, the Nephrology Clinics and recently launched Kidney Transplantation Program noting that two surgeries has been successfully performed by Dr. Abrar Khan, head of the multi-organ transplantation program. The Renal Unit at SKMC currently treats 251 patients with kidney failure by hemodialysis and 30 patients by peritoneal dialysis. We are currently providing hemodialysis to our patients in three locations; inpatient dialysis on the wards and in the critical areas (ICU and CCU), and in our Renal Unit for outpatients. We have a total of 50 dialysis machines and we provide more than 2800 dialysis sessions per month; approximately 15% of the delivered dialysis sessions are for the inpatients. The dialysis session duration varies from 3.5 – 4 hours, three times per week. Moreover, we are able to provide a wide array of services in the Nephrology Clinic for hypertension and general kidney problems receiving around 500 clinic visits per month”. Dr. Strong said that “SKMC hopes to annually participate in the “World Kidney Day” event as we support public health education and are committed to raising public awareness regarding kidney disorders and the services provided at SKMC. We hope that our activities, which will be conducted at Khalifa Park on the event day, will serve this objective. “

 Dr. Ali Al Obaidli, Clinical Director at SEHA and Consultant Nephrologist at SKMC stated that “Chronic Renal Failure or Chronic Kidney Disease has many different causes; and the most common cause in the UAE and world-wide is diabetes. When kidney function falls to less than 10-15%, a person is considered to have "End Stage Renal Disease" (ESRD) and some form of renal replacement therapy is required to sustain life and maintain health. On World Kidney Day, we wish to raise public awareness and provide education about the importance of prevention and early detection of kidney diseases and hypertension to keep our kidneys safe and healthy”. 

 From the Renal Program side, Dr. Abdul Kareem Saleh, Clinical Director and Head of Adult Nephrology added that “our Renal Program at SKMC demonstrates the commitment of SKMC and SEHA to providing medical care which is advanced and reaches the level of standards practiced at the leading hospitals around the world. The Renal Program administers a dynamic and fully integrated program of renal care delivery spanning the entire spectrum of renal diseases from early detection of renal diseases and hypertension to the provision of renal replacement therapy. The Renal Program adopts a Disease Management strategy that relies on evidence-based guidelines and best clinical practices to provide the highest quality medical care. The Program enhances the success of its operations, the quality of its medical care, and the containment of its costs by establishing regional and international partnerships with academic institutions and professional societies. In addition to that, it supports and promotes public education”.

 Dr Yassin El-Shahat, Nephrology Consultant at SKMC stated that we as physicians should communicate the important consequence of kidney and other diseases, and provide information on how diseases threatening kidneys can be treated and controlled (e.g., hypertension). We aim to improve the knowledge, attitude, and behaviors of the general population and health professionals related to kidney disease risk factors. Public participation in health educational campaigns will encourage early detection, treatment, and control in hypertensive individuals.

  “We are proud to be associated with World Kidney Day and even more pleased that our facility, Sheikh Khalifa Medical City and its talented staff of caregivers, is hosting this event for the first time in Abu Dhabi.  Dr. Obaidli, Dr. Saleh and Dr. Al Shahat are all recognized experts in their fields and we are proud to have them and all those on their teams on our staff,” Carl Stanifer, CEO of SEHA avowed. 

 The SKMC Renal Program Team

The Renal Program Team at SKMC is led by Dr. Abdulkarim Saleh, Clinical Director and Head of Adult Nephrology. His team consists of four Adult Consultants and six Adults Specialists, three Pediatrics Consultants and one Pediatric Specialist as well as a team of renal nurses, renal pharmacists, and renal dieticians.

 About SKMC

Sheikh Khalifa Medical City (SKMC), located in Abu Dhabi, UAE, operates under the management of Cleveland Clinic, named one of the top three hospitals in the USA by U.S. News and World Report . SKMC is owned and operated by SEHA, the Abu Dhabi Health Services Company, recently established to oversee operations of all public hospitals in the Emirate.  It is the flagship institution for the public health system in Abu Dhabi and has several 'Centers of Excellence,' and aspires to practice contemporary medicine comparable to the best hospitals and medical centers in the world. SKMC provides comprehensive health care services in all of the disciplines relevant to the needs and priorities of the community to attain the highest levels of patient satisfaction.

SKMC consists of a 550-bed Acute Care Hospital, a 120-bed Behavior Sciences Pavilion and the 90-bed Abu Dhabi Rehabilitation Center, in addition to more than 12 specialized outpatient clinics and ten primary healthcare centers around the city of Abu Dhabi.