Presently, Persatuan Hemodialisis Kinabalu, Sabah is running with 8 dialysis machines and in progress for approval from Ministry of Health for 10 dialysis machines permit which will be expected to operate before year end. The dialysis centre is currently treating 32 patients monthly which are mostly referred from Queen Elizabeth Hospital and walk-in application. Total of 69 patients have been and currently on dialysis treatment at the centre for the last 14 years of operations.
Despite the rising costs incurred on dialysis treatment, Persatuan Hemodialisis Kinabalu Sabah dedicatedly providing treatment to the needy patients at a minimum fee which is remains as low as RM10.00 depending on the patient’s financial background. PHKS is proud to be a place for treatment and competent provider for kidney patients regardless of their ability to pay.
Patients suffering from kidney failure would require treatment up to three times per week. Private centres charge approximately RM300 per session for dialysis treatment only and charges will be varied depends on extra services such as blood taking, doctor consultation, and Epogen. By this calculation, it is approximately RM4,000 per month. Medical bills are high and this resulted in patients and families to poverty. Therefore, PHKS aims to keep on giving further subsidies on the dialysis treatment to the poor and needy patients which leads PHKS has to take up the expenses up to more than RM1 million annually.
Kidney failure is a growing concern amongst the Malaysia owing to our sedentary lifestyle. According to Dr Thiruventhiran, who is the vice-chairman of the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) of Malaysia’s board of directors, the latest statistics show that there are about 7000 new patients entering the dialysis programme on a yearly basis. This represents a 10%-15% growth and it is projected that by 2020, the total number of patients will be close to 100,000.
PHKS Latest Update Apart from subsidizing dialysis treatment to the poor kidney failure patients, Persatuan Hemodialisis Kinabalu, Sabah also providing two units of Monark Cycle Ergometer where patients can exercise while they are being treated, which can improve their mobility, health and quality of life. Persatuan Hemodialisis Kinabalu, Sabah is the first NGO who provides Monark Cycle Ergometer facility in Sabah in fact most probably in Malaysia. The Monark Cycle Ergometer costs at least RM7,000 per units and we have also bought some for light physio training equipment as well for patients to use to do some stretching and light exercise while on dialysis treatment.
The program was recommended by our panel doctor, Dr Kenneth Wu, Consultant Physician and Nephrologist from KPJ Sabah Hospital who is the first Sabahan British-CCT accredited nephrologist in kidney medicine. He has recently pioneered a new form of treatment for dialysis patients in this country called dialysis kinesiology using Monark Cycle Ergometer where patients are being monitored closely on a daily basis while using the Monark Cycle Ergometer to see the positive results.
Most of our patients who has been using the Monark Cycle Ergometer since May 2019 has shown a lot of improvements. Some commented that they had a good sleep at night, feeling more energised and overall health has been improved.
In addition to the dialysis kinesiology using Monark Cycle Ergometer, Dr Kenneth Wu also co-organised with Persatuan Hemodialisis Kinabalu, Sabah with a health talk with a title “A Powerful Treatment for Kidney Failure” by the speaker Dr Kenneth Wu himself. The two-hour health talk was held at E West banquet hall at Luyang on 5 th January 2019 with a minimum entrance fee inclusive of a book with a title “Life Is Short, Don’t Make It Shorter” written by Dr Kenneth Wu.
His book “Life Is Short, Don’t Make It Shorter” is a very successful patient-focused medical health book which also translated into several languages and distributed worldwide. The health talk, is part of Persatuan Hemodialisis Kinabalu, Sabah (PHKS) awareness program to the public on kidney disease and dialysis treatment.
At the moment, Persatuan Hemodialisis Kinabalu has 9 dedicated staffs which most of them has post basics and renal care certification. Staff are very professional in doing their job, assisting the patients with the dialysis treatment process and at the same time taking good care of the patient’s needs to ensure that the patients are comfortable and at ease while doing their treatment.
To ensure that PHKS complied with the Minister of Health requirements, PHKS has sent and give a scholarship to all staff for Post Basic Renal Care Nursing training program where their entire expenses on the training fees, accommodation, transportation, airfare, meal allowance and salary are fully paid by PHKS. The overall expenses per staff is approximately RM26,000 per staff and this year we have sent two staff for the training since July.
All these developments have made possible from the continuous contribution and supports from the public. We hope that in future, we can improve a lot more and able to sustain with the operation so that the welfare of the needy patients will be taken care of for a long term.
About Charity Bazaar 2019 Persatuan Hemodialisis Kinabalu Sabah will be organizing the annual fundraising Charity Bazaar on 20 October 2019, Sunday from 9am till 2pm in conjunction with the 14th-anniversary celebration at Likas Sports Complex Badminton Hall. The event is expecting about more than 1000 supporters who bought the bazaar coupons, sponsors, participating outlets, performers, volunteers, and patients.
This year Charity Bazaar’s theme will be “Magical Fun Fair” aims to create a fun thrill environment that is suitable for families and all ages to enjoy over the weekend. We have lined up some exciting programs such as stage performance contest, scrumptious food stalls, flea market, fun games carnivals, free health screening and blood donation drive. We urge the public to join us and supporting this good cause activity so the fund collected will assist us to sustain and further subsidies costs of each dialysis treatment for the needy patients.
Apart from that, JCI Tanjung Aru will be joining as well for the 5th year to make the event more successful where there will be a FREE health screening and blood donation drive with their own blood donation campaign called JCI Tanjung Aru Red Saver Blood Donation Drive.
Persatuan Hemodialisis Kinabalu, Sabah hopes to raise fund by selling out at least 8,000 bazaar coupon booklets at RM50 each to raise RM400,000.00 and more by getting supports as well as donations from the generous public too. In addition to that, PHKS also selling out soft toys and collectible items as well to raise fund. The fund raised will be used for in running the centre operations and subsidies the treatment fees further as there are more new patients on the waiting list to join the centre.
The Charity Bazaar tickets are available for sale at E West Luyang, Venition, Cempaka Square, BC Bistro, The Cruise Cafe Lounge, Super 7 Restaurant, Runway Café Tanjung Aru, Airways Putatan, Cherry Restaurant and Metropot Bistro & Pub. For further information, please contact PHKS at 088-272277 or visit PHKS Facebook page at
www.facebook.com/phks2005.
Collaboration with JCI Tg Aru This is the 5th year, we have invited JCI (Junior Chamber International, Tanjung Aru) to join us to make our annual event a significant and memorable one. JCI was glad to join us and helped us in selling the coupons and their members also contributed their efforts in making this event a huge success. We are so committed to holding this Charity Bazaar event on a yearly basis as we are aware of the needs of the kidney patients. Haemodialysis patients beside their medical treatments, they need regular blood transfusions as well. Hence, JCI Tanjung Aru will be assisting us with the blood donation drive during the Charity Bazaar. Please, come and support our JCI Tanjung Aru Red Saver Blood Donation Drive during the event.
JCI Tg Aru Support JCI Tg Aru has been supporting the Charity Bazaar for the 5th year since 2013 to help out with the bazaar coupon sales, provide volunteers to help out during the bazaar event and organising the blood donation drive. This is JCI Tg Aru long term community project called HEART YOUR KIDNEY (A JCI Tanjung Aru Long Term Community Project) which was nominated and won the 2018 JCI MALAYSIA BEST LONGTERM COMMUNITY PROJECT AWARD last year during the 2018 JCI MALAYSIA ANNUAL NATIONAL CONVENTION in Johor. The founder of this project was initiated by the late Mr Mervyn Leong who has passed away last year. It was unfortunate that when we won the award, he was hospitalised due to his illness. He has inspired many of us and hope that his legacy on this project will continue to the next generation of JCI Tg Aru members. We also urged the public to support this annual PHKS Charity Bazaar so that PHKS able to continues to help the needy patients.
PRESS CONTACT: Telcadora James 088 -260 022 / 0128258688 Email: telcajames@gmail.com
