A message from our CEO
Thank you for your strong support for our life-saving cause. With diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity – which are the leading causes of chronic kidney disease and kidney failure – on the rise, there is a pressing need for NKF to do more, from prevention to treatment and management of chronic kidney disease. This is more so as recent data shows that the number of Singaporeans diagnosed with kidney failure has jumped significantly from about 3.5 new cases every day in 2009 to a staggering 5.7 new cases in 2019, with no signs of slowing down. There are currently more than 8,500 dialysis patients in Singapore.
It is therefore vital that we tackle the root of the problem and strive to do more upstream to prevent or delay people from being afflicted with kidney failure. We engage the community to get people to take charge of their health by raising greater awareness of kidney failure, its leading causes and its negative consequences, and sharing tips to slow down the progression of kidney diseases.
In this issue, you can read about the many events we have been carrying out this year to spread awareness on kidney health to the community. We also provide screening to help the at-risk groups pick up early warning signs, and refer them to the general practitioner for follow-up care, in line with the national plan for family doctors to play a key role in keeping patients within the healthcare ecosystem without falling through the cracks. Collaborations between different care providers and community partners also lead to primary care and specialised renal care being better integrated to help prevent chronic kidney disease and decelerate the progression of kidney failure.
While we do more in preventing kidney disease, we still need to cater to the current high demand for dialysis. I am happy to share that the new NKF Dialysis Centre Supported by Keppel within Yishun Community Hospital and adjacent to Khoo Teck Puat Hospital – the first of its kind in Singapore to be integrated within a hospital compound – was officially opened on 10 April. Being NKF’s first dialysis centre that comes with a peritoneal dialysis (PD) clinic, it offers a unique shared care model that provides fully integrated and seamless dialysis care for both haemodialysis (HD) and PD patients. The partnership with the hospitals also ensures that our patients enjoy continuity of care through connected networks of healthcare teams, information flow and treatment care plans.
Besides dialysis, a living donor kidney transplant remains the best treatment option for kidney failure as it gives the best survival rate and quality of life. In our feature story, you can read about the new lease of life Mohamed Helmy gave to his mother when he donated his kidney. They hope that through their sharing, it will help break down some of the barriers that have kept people from donating their kidneys to their loved ones.
Ultimately, it is most important to maintain health rather than treat sickness. Do not ignore the warning signs that your body is showing you until it is too late. Pick up some useful tips in this issue to assess if you are at risk of obesity and on how to manage it, as well as simple exercises you can do, to achieve a healthier weight and prevent kidney disease. It’s time to make a change, no matter how small it is, for a healthier and happier you!
Mr Tim Oei
Chief Executive Officer
