Adopt healthy lifestyle from young, M’sians urged
KUALA LUMPUR: The rising number of dialysis patients with chronic kidney disease underscores the need for Malaysians to adopt a healthy lifestyle and go for regular checkups, Eco World Foundation chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye said.
He said Malaysians should watch what they eat and stay active.
“It is just too easy now to get fast, processed food even at odd hours of the day.
“If we do not take good care of ourselves from as young as possible, we will likely end up unhealthy and sick later,” he said, adding that regular check-ups help in early detection of the disease.
Yesterday, Lee handed over a dialysis machine and a reprocessor worth RM80,000 to the Dato Lee Kok Chee Haemodialysis Centre by Pertubuhan Medifund Kuala Lumpur (PMKL) in Ampang here.
Also present were Eco World Foundation chief executive officer Capt (Rtd) Datuk Liew Siong Sing and PMKL chairman Datuk Eric Ong.
Over the past 10 years, Lee said, Malaysia had seen a 100% increase in the number of new dialysis patients with an estimated 7,000 new patients each year requiring dialysis.
“At the end of 2017, the number of kidney patients needing dialysis rose to almost 43,000.
“Currently, there are about 20,000 patients still waiting for their kidney transplant. Such rates are alarming,” he said, adding that more dialysis machines were needed following the increase in the number of patients.
Lee also called on corporations and individuals to donate dialysis machines as the average lifespan of a dialysis machine is between seven and eight years.
St John Ambulance Malaysia, he said, was one of the biggest non-profit organisations which provided affordable dialysis treatment at its 19 centres, with 200 dialysis machines nationwide.
“This is not the first time we have donated dialysis machines and it will not be the last.
“Up to now, the foundation has spent over RM300,000 on dialysis machines for various non-governmental organisations,” he said.