Giving Hope
July 28, 2010 by admin
Filed under Favourites
The National Kidney Foundation (NKF) opened its first dialysis centre in Jalan Hang Lekiu in 1993 and since then, has expanded its role from being purely a provider of dialysis treatment, to becoming a one-stop centre for all matters involving the kidneys.
It aims at saving lives through preventive education and early detection of kidney diseases while providing a second chance through haemodialysis for those suffering endstage renal failure. Besides that, NKF also promotes organ donations, kidney transplants and medical research in kidney diseases. It strives to ensure the continued good health and well-being of its patients through a holistic-care concept.
Besides providing affordable dialysis treatment for kidney patients, NKF has designed and developed the syllabus for Malaysia’s only specialised training course for Dialysis Assistants, thereby raising the standard of care given to kidney patients. Dialysis assistants are the men and women caregivers who help staff nurses in providing on-the-ground assistance to kidney failure patients undergoing dialysis. Currently, NKF trains and certifies dialysis assistants from throughout the country, who, upon completing their three-month course, receive a Certificate of Competency as dialysis assistants.
Many dialysis patients experience trauma, shock and disillusionment when they are first told that they have end-stage kidney failure. But thanks to NKF’s Welfare Department, help is just a telephone call away. The welfare officers are on hand to counsel and help patients overcome their initial depression, and put them on track to full psychological recovery.
That’s not all. Many kidney failure patients are unemployed and unable to hold regular jobs
because, unless they undergo a successful kidney transplant, they need dialysis treatments 13 times a month for four hours per session, which may interfere with their normal working lives.
Hence, the Welfare Department has also instituted various job placement and financial assistance schemes to help these patients earn a living through self-employment. NKF has dialysis centres in all the states in Malaysia except for Malacca and Negeri Sembilan.
NATIONAL KIDNEY FOUNDATION
70, Jalan 14/29, 46100 Petaling Jaya,
Selangor Darul Ehsan. Malaysia
03 – 7954 9048/ 03 – 7954 9049.
www.nkf.org.my
By Prema Jayabalan
