Friday January 16, 2009
New kidney dialysis centre for the poorKIDNEY patients who cannot afford dialysis treatment can look forward to some relief with the setting up of the Lions Kidney Dialysis Centre.
The RM950,000 facility will open to the public in August, centre chairman Peter Chung Kean Beng said during the centre’s groundbreaking ceremony at Jalan Bawasah in Penang on Sunday.
“The centre will be equipped with 14 dialysis machines which have the capacity to treat some 80 patients.
“We are now waiting for a licence from the Ministry of Health to open the centre,” he said, adding that the centre was a long-term project by the Lions Club of George Town.
Chung (second left) and the VIPs shovelling sand to symbolise the groundbreaking ceremony.
“Poor and underprivileged patients can apply to the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) to be treated here,” he said.
An exhibition, talk and free health screening were also held during the event.
During his presentation on kidney care, NFK (Penang branch) chairman Dr Ong Yoke Meng identified diabetes as the main cause of kidney failure.
“More than 50% of kidney patients suffer from diabetes. High blood pressure and kidney blockages are also causes,” he said, adding that heart and kidney diseases were closely related.
“If you can prevent heart diseases, you can also prevent kidney problems. Change your lifestyle if you are a smoker. Remember, what is good for the heart is also good for the kidney,” he said.
Dr Ong also advocated regular urine and blood pressure tests as means of preventing kidney failure.
“Kidney diseases are rising at an alarming rate. Prevention and early detection are important,” he said.
About 100 Lions from Indonesia, Thailand, Japan, Singapore and Hong Kong also attended the ceremony.
http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2009/1/16/north/2997146&sec=north
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