Sabah Kidney Foundation to set up dialysis centre

KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah Kidney Foundation (SKF) will be setting up a dialysis centre in the city, said its president, Datuk Seri Lajim Ukin.

SKF is currently identifying a location for the dialysis centre, he sais, adding that they will need at least RM400,000 for the project.

Towards this end SKF is organising two fund-raising events this year with the hopes to collect fund for the centre and for the foundation's other programs.

Speaking to the media after officiating SKF's first program this year, a forum on loving your kidney, Lajim said a charity golf tournament will be on April 27 at the Dalit Golf and County Club in Tuaran and a fund-raising dinner on July 12.

“Tables for the dinner are priced at RM20,000, RM10,000 and RM5,000 each. There will be 90 tables for the dinner and we hope the business community and corporate sectors as well as philanthropists will support our cause by purchasing the tickets for the dinner,” he said.

Lajim disclosed that they have invited Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail to be the guest of honour to the dinner and invitations will also be extended to Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal as well as state Cabinet ministers.

On the dialysis centre, Lajim said a few specialist doctors will be volunteering to help out with the opening and they are considering setting it up at Permai Polyclinics along Jalan Pantai.

“Looking at starting with five dialysis machines which can serve 15 patients a day and the machines cost about RM65,000 each. We will charge a minimal fee as there will be expenses SKF has to cover such as salary for staff but this will depend on the financial situation of the patient,” he stressed.

Overall in Malaysia, there are 400,000 patients with kidney ailments and 22,000 are undergoing dialysis, he disclosed.

“The government spends about RM1.6 billion annually to treat patients with kidney ailment,” he said, adding that patients need about RM3,250 a month if getting dialysis done at private medical facilities.