DAMMAM: Some 250 male and female Saudi nurses and other medical personnel took part in an educational conference on diabetes and kidney failure as part of their continuing medical education (CME) as required by the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties. The health educational conference, held at a local hotel recently, was organized by the Saudi Diabetes and Endocrine Association (SDEA) in fulfillment of its mission and vision as an active partner of the Saudi national health development program. The holding of continuing medical education and professional development programs in the health sector is aimed to meet and comply with the rapid developments in the global healthcare and medical field. Addressing the opening of the conference, Sheikh Abdulaziz Ali Al-Turki, president of the SDEA, emphasized the importance of the event in the management of diabetic patients, as well as the knowledge to be gained by the attendees. He pointed out that the conference was meant to enhance the knowledge and skills of local medical personnel by providing optimal health care to diabetic patients. He said knowledge about diabetes was an additional input in the continuing medical education of nurses as required by the government. Attendees at the educational conference were accredited by the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties with six CME medical education hours. Five speakers in the specialized fields of diabetes, nephrology, nursing, health education, and nutrition shared their experiences relating to diabetes and kidney failure. Dr. Basem Futa, head of the SDEA education committee, said that enhancing knowledge in the management and prevention of diabetes through continuing government medical education programs will provide and ensure long term support to the many diabetic citizens in this country. Saudi Arabia has one of the highest percentages of diabetes in the world, with 2,065,300 people diagnosed with the disease as of 2010, which is 16.8 percent of the population, according to the International Diabetes Federation.
