Hope for dialysis patients

Star Space
Tuesday December 23, 2008
Hope for dialysis patients

THE National Kidney Foundation of Malaysia (NKF) organised its Annual Dialysis Meeting recently, with Challenges in Renal Rehabilitation being the theme for this year.

The forum, held for the sixth year running, was aimed at updating and providing information to caregivers with the knowledge to improve the quality of life of dialysis patients.

The speakers reflected the concerns in aspects related to diet, exercise, patient education and employment of dialysis patients.

Forum organising committee chairman Dr T. Thiruventhiran said the programme was designed to cover all aspects of renal rehabilitation and provided participants with the opportunity to update and benchmark their practices with industry standards.

Consultant nephrologist Dr Fan Kin Seng, who spoke on Renal Rehabilitation and its Prerequisites – An Overview, said 18 dialysis centres surveyed showed only 60% of non-diabetic patients and 23% of diabetic patients were capable of a level of physical activity beyond that of caring for themselves.

Thus, he believes the way forward is to design a programme comprising medical treatment, education, counselling and dietary exercise.

Qualified nurse and exercise specialist for dialysis patients Suzie Burford undertook exercise routines on stage for the benefit of participants.

Meanwhile consultant nephrologist Dr Luigi Ballerini spoke on the need to encourage and motivate dialysis patients as well as managing depression in dialysis.

Consultant urologist Dr Clarence Lei’s session was on Managing Sexual Dysfunction.

University lecturer and dialysis patient Dr Balachander Guru shared with participants the shock and denial faced by many as they faced the prospect of dialysis, and that a lack of counsellors meant many were deprived of emotional support.

He said the role of nurses was a key factor in the overall wellbeing of dialysis patients and felt that work was an important aspect of his life as it gave him a purpose to carry on.

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