Thank you for your steadfast support for our cause. As we live in an endemic new normal after weathering the
Covid-19 pandemic, we see another storm brewing – the alarming rise in chronic kidney disease (CKD). We need
to tackle this enormous and longer-term challenge because the
stark reality is that more than 300,000
people in Singapore are suffering from CKD, and possibly more remain undiagnosed due to its silent symptoms.
There is an urgent and pressing need to
scale up efforts across its entire spectrum – from awareness to
prevention to early management.
We strongly encourage everyone to get screened so that prompt
action can be taken when needed and, at the same time, make lifestyle modifications such as regular exercise,
healthy diet, less consumption of alcohol and quitting smoking. In Caring for Your Kidneys, you can read about
the many preventive healthcare community events we carried out to engage heartlanders to take charge of
their health. While we reach out to the community, we also strive to collaborate even more closely with
general practitioners and hospitals in a synergistic way to adopt integrated strategies in chronic kidney
disease prevention and early detection and its continuum of care.
For those who are unfortunately
afflicted with kidney failure, this burden carries significant psychosocial, physical and economic impact on
patients and their families, as dialysis is a long-term care.
Dialysis patients, more often than not, have to
quit their jobs or reduce their work hours or responsibilities after starting dialysis. Financial stress will
further lead to many psychological issues such as anxiety and depression, and loss of self-esteem may
manifest.
Hence, while we do all we can to provide quality dialysis treatment, it is crucial that
we provide holistic care where patients take ownership of their health. We have put in place a Renal
Rehabilitation Programme that focuses on the 5Es – Encouragement, Education, Exercise, Employment,
Evaluation which you can read more about in this issue. Through this comprehensive programme, we empower
patients to manage their condition independently for better outcomes and quality of life. This is one key area
that is part of our Future Forward 2030 vision to bring about meaningful changes in our patients’ lives.
Taking on a multidisciplinary, person-centric approach to provide continuum of care, our renal
doctors and nurses work hand in hand with allied health professionals such as social workers, clinical
psychologist, dietitians, therapists and exercise specialists. In partnership with the patient, caregiver and
next-of-kin, the team helps to ensure seamless, effective and efficient care, so that the entire scope of a
patient’s health needs from prevention to the end of life is met.
In Life-saving Care, we
highlight the story of Mr John Khang, who trained as a barista through NKF’s patient employment programme. By
contributing back to society, he has regained his sense of self-worth and looks ahead towards a purposeful
life. You can also read about patient Mr Subhan Ali, who has taken up home-based peritoneal dialysis because
it suits his lifestyle well and he feels assured that home support is at hand from NKF’s care team of
experienced PD nurses. With his flexible lifestyle, he is able to run a part-time home business with the
cooking skills he has acquired to earn a living.
While we help our patients in all possible ways,
our greater challenge is to ensure families do not go down the path that leads to kidney failure.
That is why each one of us has a vital part to play in reducing the burden and incidence of
chronic kidney disease and preventing its onset. It starts with one taking the first step to get screened.
Talk to your doctor today. It could save your life.
Tim Oei
Chief Executive Officer
