Taking life's challenges in their stride

by Alyaa Alhadjri

Health Ministry development director Datuk Dr Azmi Shapie (standing, fourth from left) with the winners of the World Kidney Day Run.

KUALA LUMPUR (March 20, 2011): Life must go on despite any adversities that may be thrown our way. That was the message from Patients Support Group president Chuah Seong Ban to all who are battling with kidney disease, in conjunction with World Kidney Day celebration on March 10.

Formed under the National Kidney Foundation, the group, which currently has 700 members in Klang Valley, is an active advocate and supporter of efforts to promote healthy living as an effective way for kidney disease patients to overcome the challenges that are part and parcel of managing their condition.
Throughout this month, NKF and its partners have lined up a series of awareness activities nationwide, and its main event of a World Kidney Day Run was held today at Dataran Merdeka, attracting more than 2,000 participants.
Chuah, 39, who participated in the run, was diagnosed with end-stage kidney failure in 2003 and now undergoes dialysis three times a week.
"I did not see it coming because I had no previous medical problems and was active in sports. I decided to go for a medical checkup after feeling lethargic and suffering from a loss of appetite for a few weeks.
"At first I could not believe it. I was admitted for 10 days, after which I did not want to meet anyone. My life only got back on track after a few months," said Chuah, recalling his early days after being diagnosed with the disease.
An electrical engineer by profession, Chuah who worked with a global company conceded that despite his positive attitude towards life, the disease has affected his abilities to travel overseas, something which he used to do a lot for work-related purposes.
However, he advised all kidney disease patients to remember that it is not the end of the line and urged them to become members of the Patients Support Group.
At a press conference held after the run, Health Ministry development director Datuk Dr Azmi Shapie quoted figures from the National Renal Registry which showed that the total number of patients on dialysis had grown from 6,689 in 2000 to 21,159 in 2009.
He noted that 34 per cent of dialysis patients who died in 2009, died of cardiovascular disease, prompting the theme for this year's celebration: "Protect Our Kidneys, Save Our Hearts". -- theSun