Uhood Muhammad

Okaz/Saudi Gazette



BAHA — Hanan Ahmed Al-Omari, 27, a student at Al-Baha University, has won first place at the 5th Scientific Conference in Innovation for inventing a bracelet that alerts kidney failure patients on the increase of fluids in their body.



The device is made of fabric that can easily expand. When too much fluid builds up in the body, a small bulb lights up, alerting the patient.



Hanan was born with one kidney and doctors detected deformities, including a narrow bladder, in her urinary system. She subsequently underwent several rectification operations with the first operation taking place when she turned 1.



When Hanan turned 11, her doctor told her father that she was going to suffer kidney failure in two years. In middle school, the symptoms of kidney failure started appearing and she had to undergo dialysis three times a week.



“My family tried to convince me to leave school as it was affecting my health. I reluctantly agreed, provided it was for five years. I spent the first three years with kidney failure and its symptoms before thinking seriously about looking for a job. I succeeded in finding a job as a saleswoman in a school canteen for two semesters.



Encouragement by students at the school she worked rekindled her interest in continuing her education and after she graduated high school, Hanan enrolled in university and the idea to make the invention came to her during her sophomore year.



“I participated in the 3rd Scientific Conference. I presented the participation paper and it was accepted. I tried to draw a model for the idea without any help, but I withdrew from the competition. Now, in my senior year, I participated in the 5th Scientific Conference and presented my invention, which received limitless support from my family and unexpected success.”