A1SaudiArabia.com

AL-KHOBAR – The Kingdom belatedly marked World Kidney Day last weekend by distributing information material and campaign literature on the prevention and management of diabetes, which is often the cause of kidney diseases.
World Kidney Day was celebrated on March 11 by over 100 countries. The celebration in Saudi Arabia was spearheaded last weekend by the Saudi Diabetes and Endocrine Association (SDEA) together with its annual educational campaign to help diabetic patients reduce their risk of kidney failure.
This year’s celebration of World Kidney Day focused on diabetes, which is the leading cause of kidney diseases worldwide.
“Kidney failure in Saudi Arabia is a serious problem and carries with it many medical, social, and financial consequences,” said Abdulaziz Ali Al-Turki, president of SDEA, during the launching of the education drive in Al-Khobar.
Information material and brochures on the prevention and management of diabetes and other endocrine diseases were distributed in malls, commercial centers, and schools.
During the launch, Al-Turki emphasized that the educational campaign starts with blood sugar screening to identity those patients at risk of diabetes and then helps diabetic patients attain and maintain their blood sugar and blood pressure levels within normal ranges.
SDEA information material cited the following guidelines on diabetes prevention, such as optimizing blood sugar control, optimizing blood pressure control, avoiding the consumption of excessive protein, moderating the consumption of salt and salty foods, performing annual screening and undertaking all kidney function tests, avoiding smoking, maintaining blood lipids within normal ranges, avoiding taking medication without physicians’ orders, and avoiding dehydration.
Dr. Basem Futa, head of the SDEA committee on information and education, said the scientific committee of the SDEA will address diabetic prevention and management programs during its annual diabetes update conference on April 7.
The World Health Organization said the celebration of World Kidney Day “is a good opportunity to remind governments that the pandemic weighs heavily on all countries’ healthcare budgets and that it is crucial to take action to facilitate early detection and encourage healthy lifestyles”.
WHO statistics show that kidney diseases affect around 600 million people worldwide – approximately one in ten people.
Kidney diseases are silent killers and patients may have no symptoms until they have kidney failure. “It is then too late for treatment and the only way to stay alive is lifetime dialysis – or transplantation, for the lucky few who manage to find a donor.
Sadly, dialysis is often not an option in the developing world, where it is too expensive, water is scarce or machines are unavailable,” WHO said in its advisory on the fight against kidney diseases. – SG

JEDDAH – Prince Misha’l Bin Majed Bin Abdul Aziz, Governor of Jeddah, has suspended a surgeon with four medical error complaints against him from practicing after the Ministry of Health for two months failed to initiate any action against him.
Abdul Rahman Al-Ojairi, head of the Shariah Medical Commission in the province of Makkah, said the body had received complaints directed at the surgeon from four patients and passed reports on to the Ministry of Health seeking the doctor’s suspension.
“Two months later, we found that the surgeon was still working,” Al-Oraiji said. “I was concerned that problems might get worse, so I contacted the governor and informed him of the evidence against the surgeon.”
The surgeon has now been suspended from practicing until investigations into the complaints are completed. – Okaz/SG

MAKKAH – Police here have arrested a man in his seventies for shooting an inspector working at Al-Umrah Municipality on Thursday. Hussein Al-Lahyani said he was assigned by the head of the municipality to investigate a report that a man had encroached on government property on the outskirts of Makkah. He said when he arrived at the location, he found an old man sitting in his Hi-Lux. When he asked the man to produce his title deed, the man started shooting at him. One of the bullets shot off one of Al-Lahyanis fingers. – Okaz/SG

BEIRUT – A Saudi security official has revealed that the Kingdom provided essential intelligence information to the Lebanese government “months” ago which helped it crack down on the Fatah Al-Islam militant group at the Nahr Albarid camp.

Fatah Al-Islam fought the Lebanese army at the Nahr Al Barid camp of Palestinian refugees in 2007. The clashes resulted in the death of more than 20 Saudis.

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MANAMA – Dubais lingering debt woes have given Bahrain a big opportunity to regain its past status as the focal point for Middle Eastern business in 2010, the head of the kingdoms $4 billion Bahrain Bay project said.

Vast sovereign support had helped Dubai leapfrog the kingdom as the gateway for Western capital to the Gulf in recent years, but Bob Vincent, CEO of the Manama development said Bahrain was poised to take advantage while Dubais credit problems swelled.

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DUBAI – British companies operating in various industries have expressed their interest to establish business in Dubai Airport Free Zone to approach their target markets in the region.

The leader of a 15-man strong UK trade and investment delegation voiced appreciation at the facilities of the Dubai Airport Free Zone. Phil Dowrick, head of the UK Trade & Investment Group which visited the free zone recently expressed appreciation of the importance of good business opportunities in Dubai.

“The British companies are working to expand marketing activities outside the UK to promote qualitative and competitive products of UK companies,” said Dowrick during the meeting with officials from Dubai Airport Free zone.

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RIYADH – Some 300 various forms of traditional handicraft are on show at the Janadriya Festival, while visitors can try a similar number of regional dishes, said Abdullah Al-Jabali, Head of the festivals Heritage Committee.

According to Al-Jabali, each province selected a range of food and crafts for show at the festival, which held its grand opening on Wednesday night, along with groups to represent the diverse folklore, tribal and family traditions of each region.

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AL-KHOBAR – Some 10,000 runners from all sectors of the community in the Eastern Province will participate in this years charity run, which will kick off Thursday to raise money to support charitable organizations in the region.

The 10-kilometer run will start at the Corniche in Al-Khobar. The runners have been divided into three categories: children below the age of 12, adult runners, and senior citizens.

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RIYADH – Plans to modernise Saudi Arabias legal system will take years due to a chronic shortage of qualified judges and lawyers.

The Kingdom said this month it would set up commercial and appeal courts in the main cities as part of a $2 billion reform to modernise courts and train judges. The move coincides with a crackdown on trading violations on the Arabs biggest bourse by slapping heavy fines on major banks or withdrawing licenses for financial firms.

The United States last month also removed Saudi Arabia from a list of alleged intellectual property violators, citing a better law enforcement environment.

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RIYADH – Saudi Arabia has approved the Gulf Arab states first exchange-traded fund (ETF), which will be accessible to foreigners as part of efforts to open up the biggest Arab bourse.

Saudi financial firm Falcom Financial Services won approval to list the “Falcom Saudi Equity ETF” on the bourse, the Capital Market Authority (CMA) said in a statement on Tuesday.

The worlds top oil exporter has been trying to encourage more foreign money to its bourse, having recently allowed indirect foreign ownership via so-called swap agreements.

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