The Covid-19 pandemic has posed huge challenges for everyone. Nevertheless, all of us at NKF have put in our best to ensure that dialysis patients, especially with their weaker immune systems, receive uninterrupted and safe dialysis treatment and care.  As a tribute to our 1,000-strong team, we have chronicled in this issue their journey as they worked tirelessly from February 2020 to September 2022 to carry out our mission-critical work and delivered 1.5 million life-saving dialysis treatments. While we are deeply saddened to have lost some along the way, we have emerged stronger and more resilient to better serve dialysis patients in future crises. We are immensely grateful and thank you for your unwavering support during this tumultuous time.

As we move towards endemic living, investing in our health is crucial - all the more so as kidney failure cases are rising at an alarming rate in Singapore, and we see a “kidney tsunami” coming.  About six people are diagnosed every day, a three­ fold increase from two decades ago. NKF has over 5,300 dialysis patients - about 60% of the total dialysis patient population in Singapore. Diabetes remains one of the leading causes of kidney failure. With World Diabetes Day falling on 14 November every year, it is timely to remind ourselves to lead a healthy lifestyle to prevent diabetes. One in three individuals is at risk of developing diabetes in their lifetime. In Daily Dose of Health, we share with you the importance of cutting down on your sugar intake and going for regular health screenings, as well as tips to nip diabetes in the budding stage of pre-diabetes and lower your risk of diabetes.

In Life-saving Care, you can read the story of Ms Irene Tam, who chose peritoneal dialysis (PD) so that she can do her treatment in the comfort of her home while sleeping with the help of a PD machine, rather than going to a dialysis centre for thrice weekly haemodialysis treatments. With PD giving her more flexibility, she is able to work full­ time, support her 86-year-old bedridden mother, enjoy outdoor activities and spend quality time with her friends for a more fulfilling life.

In this segment, we also highlight the heart-warming story of the brave and selfless Madam Norhayati, who gave her brother-in-law one of the greatest gifts of life - a kidney. She hopes that by sharing her story, it will debunk the myths about kidney donation and encourage others to also come forward to donate. A kidney transplant offers the best solution to kidney failure, and gifts the recipient a better quality of life.

As you may have noticed, we have revamped our newsletter such that it encapsulates our focused role in providing sustainable dialysis through viable treatment alternatives, helping patients to take ownership of their health, and empowering the community to lead healthy lives through our kidney awareness and prevention efforts. As you read the stories in this brand-new edition, we hope that you feel the impact of your support in transforming lives. We look forward to journeying on with you in giving life and hope to dialysis patients and the wider community.

Tim Oei
Chief Executive Officer