The National Kidney Foundation Of Malaysia

PPM-002-10-12021969

INTRODUCTION TO SOCIETY

From our humble beginnings when we first registered in the year 1969, National Kidney Foundation of Malaysia (NKF) strives to raise the standards of care we provide to patients with kidney failure and those who are suffering from various kidney-related diseases. In 1993, we opened the doors of our first dialysis centre at Jalan Hang Lekiu, Kuala Lumpur. Over the years, NKF has grown tremendously with the support from many parties. NKF has expanded its role from being just a dialysis treatment provider, to becoming a one-stop national resource centre for all kidney-related matters.

STORY ON SOCIETY

In December 1966, the press highlighted the plight of Harry Kydd who was suffering from end-stage kidney failure and severe hypertension. Kydd, age 22, married with two children was then a teacher at the Methodist Boys Primary School in Jalan Davidson, Kuala Lumpur.  Kydd who was at the prime of his youth, would die if there is no kidney machine available for his treatments.

Dr SS Gill, Consultant Nephrologist at Assunta Hospital was sympathetic; along with Kydd’s uncle Carrol Harry, who was a reporter with Malay Mail at that time – he helped to highlight Kydd’s case in the press. The news caught the attention of the public and funds begun to pour in. Then a Drake Willock Dialysis Machine was flown in from the US and Dr SS Gill became the first doctor in Malaysia to provide dialysis treatment.

Later, when Kydd died of a stroke after few months of dialysis treatment, the machine was used to dialyse other patients suffering from end-stage renal disease (ESRD) at the hospital. Kydd’s death raised public awareness on kidney failure and haemodialysis.

This incident spurred the Rotary Club of Petaling Jaya to take interest in the management of patients suffering from end-stage kidney disease. This event significantly brought about the change of fate for many who were diagnosed with ESRD in Malaysia.

In 1968, Dr Gill was invited to share his experience of treating kidney patients at the Rotary Club of Petaling Jaya - the Club then undertook, as one of its projects, the provision of financial assistance to those with ESRD, thus paving the way for National Kidney Foundation of Malaysia to be established.

With the approval from the Registrar of Societies, National Kidney Foundation of Malaysia (NKF) was launched at the Lake Club, Kuala Lumpur under the patronage of the Rotary Club of Petaling Jaya on 16 January 1970. The Minister of Health then, the late Tan Sri Haji Sardon bin Haji Jubir became the first President of NKF, whilst the Foundation’s first chairman was J.W Henderson of the Rotary Club of PJ. 

On 21 April 1993, NKF became the first NGO in Malaysia to establish and run a dialysis centre for the benefit of the poor and needy patients suffering from ESRD. This achievement was made possible with the help from Dr SS Gill, Dato Dr Sreenevasan and Dato Dr Zaki Morad Bin Mohd Zaher – Senior Nephrologist at GHKL; all who contributed significant resources for this meaningful project. 

For the first time, dialysis treatments were made available to lower income group of kidney patients at a subsidized rate of RM50 with the opening of NKF’s first dialysis centre at Jalan Hang Lekiu, Kuala Lumpur. 

7 dialysis centres were set up (including the centre at Jalan Hang Lekiu) in the first 7 years. To date, NKF runs 28 dialysis centres nationwide with plans for more upcoming centres at locations with kidney failure patients who are underserved. NKF’s achievement today is the foresight, prudence and hard work of the founding members – along with the continuous support from various organizations and the public.