Classify kidney patients as OKUs, PAS Sarawak suggests
MIRI: Parti Islam Se- Malaysia ( PAS) Sarawak has suggested that kidney patients should be classified as individuals with disability (OKUs) in that they are dependent on dialysis machines to continue with their daily lives.
PAS Sarawak commissioner Jofri Jaraiee believes that with the OKU status, they can at least be qualified for the financial assistance provided under Welfare Department (JKM).
“This can alleviate their burden, especially those with no fixed income and also those from the rural areas who have to travel far from their homes just to undergo haemodialysis,” Jofri, who is also Miri PAS chief, told The Borneo Post here yesterday.
He stressed that the government must pay serious attention to the problems faced by these kidney patients, in that haemodialysis must be administered by trained medical personnel and for now, this service is only available at hospitals or dialysis centres.
Adding on, he said haemodialysis does not actually cure kidney disease; rather, it replaces the key function of kidneys, which is to cleanse the blood of toxins and other excess substances like salt.
“For many kidney patients, they are dependent on dialysis machines while waiting for transplants, which could take years.”
It is known that a regular haemodialysis session takes around four hours – usually three times a week.
According to Jofri, the Malaysian Red Crescent ( MRC) Miri Dialysis Centre receives an average of three new endstage renal failure ( ESRF) cases per month. Based on the latest statistics, the centre now accommodates 318 patients, with 60 still in the waiting list.
In comparison, it had only six patients after it initiated the haemodialysis service on Aug 3, 1996 – and the number grew to 137 as at Dec 31, 2006, with 20 on the waiting list.
It is learnt that the centre runs the dialysis treatment in three shifts every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday; and two shifts on Tuesday, Friday and Saturday.
The MRC Miri Dialysis Centre is said to have among the largest number of kidney patients treated by any establishment in Sarawak.
In this respect, Jofri said based on his meeting with the operations officers during a recent visit, the centre also receives patients from Limbang, Lawas, Batu Niah and Bintulu.
“One of the patients, Mohamad Taha Bini – also the coordinator of Jariah Usrati Charity Project – told us about the project initiated by him and his wife, together with a few friends, aimed at helping fellow patients in need of help.
“Many kidney patients do need help, especially those from poor and underprivileged backgrounds. He ( Mohamad Taha) also appeals for more donors to come in and help,” he said.
Jofri also related the plight of another kidney patient, Veno Jungai, who has to endure a twohour motorcycle ride from his longhouse Rumah Johnson Jangu Seloi in Sibuti to the dialysis centre here, every time he needs treatment.
“Despite his condition, he (Veno) has no other option – there’s no service to transport patients from the rural areas to the dialysis centre. Sometimes, he would stop by the roadside whenever he feels tired, or seek shelter if it’s raining heavily,” lamented Jofri.
“This is why PAS Sarawak is also urging the government to provide more dialysis centres for the convenience of patients who live far inland,” he added.