Oman health: Renal dialysis centre opens in Seeb

Muscat: At a time when the number of kidney patients in Oman is increasing, a new renal dialysis centre was opened officially at the Seeb Polyclinic on Sunday. Meanwhile, doctors said leading a healthy lifestyle is the key to avoid kidney diseases.
The renal dialysis centre in Seeb is the second government-run centre in Muscat, after the Renal Dialysis Centre in Bausher. It was opened in the presence of the Minister of Health Dr. Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Sa’eedi and other officials.
He expressed satisfaction with the opening of the new centre, paid for through a generous contribution by the Saud Bahwan Charitable Foundation, but said the increasing number of cases also require that people be educated about ways to prevent disease.
“Unfortunately, we have 12 to 15 patients a month added to this cycle of dialysis. This is a high number, considering the population of Oman,” he said.
Currently, 1,800 people in Oman need kidney dialysis. “But there are many more patients with renal diseases,” he said.
The two main causes of the rise in the number of cases are diabetes and high blood pressure. “There are other factors, but these are the two main ones,” he said.
He stressed the need to follow a healthy lifestyle to avoid such diseases.
“Treatment is available for diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. A patient adhering to the treatment, leading a healthy lifestyle, undertaking physical activities, eating a proper diet and not smoking and giving up other bad habits, will, if not stop the disease, slow its progression and hopefully slow down or prevent any complications,” he said.
He added that 40 per cent of those diseases can be avoided by following a healthy lifestyle. “The individual lays the basis for attention to health, and only after that, health facilities and other government organisations come in.”
Given the “rapid” increase in the number of kidney patients, Al Sa’eedi called for more contributions by the private sector and charitable organisations.
“It’s an excellent step. We encourage all those in the private sector to also take seriously their social responsibilities,” he said.
The new centre, operational since 18 February, has 28 beds with dialysis machines and has the capacity to treat 200 patients in three shifts, explained Dr. Ahmed Atris, Nephrology Specialist. “Currently, we are treating 158 patients, of whom 100 are males and 58 females,” he said.
Dr. Atris confirmed that a healthy lifestyle is essential to avoid kidney diseases. “Good control of blood sugar and blood pressure, good hydration, avoiding medication hazardous to the kidney and avoiding obesity are key. People should do exercise and control their diet,” he said.
He said that the centre currently works from 7AM to 11PM, but after three to six months, it will be operational round the clock.