AUBMC marks World Kidney Day for the First Time
March 14, 2013. The Division of Nephrology and Hypertension at the American University of Beirut Medical Center (AUBMC) observed World Kidney Day for the first time this year. To mark the occasion and with the goals of raising awareness about kidney health, encouraging kidney donation and providing information on living with kidney disease, medical and nursing staff members from the Division and the Hemodialysis Unit were present in the Outpatient Department building first floor lounge on Wednesday March 13, where they set up a display booth, and distributed flyers to visitors, students and faculty members. Nurses from both the Hemodialysis unit and the outpatient clinics also participated in the event wearing T-shirts along with faculty members and other staff members to mark the occasion and bring attention to the importance of the special day.
The event and its various activities were primarily conceived and prepared for by the nurses in the HD unit with the full support of the Division, AUBMC administration and the AUBMC public relations office.
Kidney dysfunction is relevant to Lebanon as it is often the result of the 2 most common chronic non-communicable diseases, namely hypertension and diabetes. Both are significantly prevalent in the country and the region at large. Hence this year’s World Kidney Day activities at AUBMC stressed on the importance of screening for kidney dysfunction and consult with a nephrologist, if and when needed. Kidney dysfunction screening is quite simple. Relying on ordinary blood and urine tests and blood pressure checks, the kidney health can be checked and its function level assessed. In fact, the level of function termed eGFR has been automatically reported on laboratory reports at AUBMC since 2004.
Though the activities are limited marking the day at AUBMC this year, the celebration is symbolic for kidney health awareness and to serve as a springboard for a broader campaign next year with more extensive engagement of the community at large to increase awareness and involvement.
