The number of dialysis patients is increasing each year and expected to touch a whopping 100,000 patients by 2040. According to National Kidney Foundation (NKF), presently there are 50,000 dialysis patients nationwide.
“Each year the numbers are increasing with 7,000 new patients, ” the NKF said in a statement.
To address these issues, NKF held an awareness forum titled “Improving Quality of Your Life” in Muar. According to the statement, these forums work as an information and experience sharing platform for end-stage renal failure (ESRF) management. Topics covered ranged from managing and treating kidney disease, to guidance on adhering to healthy habits physically and mentally.
NKF board of directors member Dr Lee Wan Tin’s speech at the forum touched on the importance of having such events.
“NKF established the Patient Forum to provide patients and their caregivers with information and advice that they need in one platform, ” he said.
He added that they hoped to safeguard the physical, emotional and psychological well-being of the patients through these forums.
The forum featured five nephrologists and a dietician who shared vital information about kidney disease as well as improving the patients’ knowledge of managing the disease with a healthy lifestyle and medical treatment.
One of the speakers, Dr Nor Fadhlina Zakaria said the rate of kidney donation in the country was still low as only 1.3% of the country’s population of 30 million are registered as donors.
NKF, a non-profit charitable organisation, currently has over 1,700 dialysis patients who are receiving subsidised treatments spread out at over 28 dialysis centres nationwide.
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