For anyone who has kidney disease, especially the young ones, I know it is scary to have kidney disease, be on dialysis, and have a transplant but have hope. Be alert, eat right, take your medications, and be persistent with your lab and doctor visits.
– Maria Madak, 31-year old kidney transplant recipient whose kidneys failed at age 26
The only child of a close family friend died three days ago. It was heart wrenching to see the couple go through the ordeal of losing their beloved 35 year-old daughter; they had placed so much hope on her to carry on the family’s striving restaurant chain.
When I offered my condolences to the inconsolably bereaved family in Petaling Jaya, I broke down.
I wonder why the world is so cruel sometimes! The pretty charming girl died of kidney complications following renal failure. No amount of money and medication could save her.
Malaysia, including Sarawak, is faced with the devastating impact of kidney failure, a silent disease that is claiming lives and draining resources. Renal failure is a preventable tragedy, one that demands our attention and action.
In recent years, the kidney failure menace has loomed large over our country, casting a shadow over the nation’s health landscape. The numbers paint a grim picture: we are facing a double whammy — diabetes and hypertension.
In the prime of their lives, young Malaysians find themselves having to cope with renal disease, mainly because of diabetes — a disease no longer of the rich but of every strata of society, young and old!
The statistics are sobering. According to experts at the Sarawak Heart Centre and Sarawak General Hospital, the incidence of kidney failure among individuals aged 25-34 is on the rise, accounting for a startling six percent of those requiring dialysis treatment.
The majority of the patients though are in the 55 and above age group, making up of 60 per cent.
Other age groups requiring dialysis are 45-55 (21-24 per cent) and 35-44 (10 to 12.5 per cent).
What gave me the goose pimples was a report that between 250 and 300 new patients with renal failures require dialysis treatment in Sarawak. Frightening isn’t it? More younger patients are facing kidney-related problem!
And to add salt to the wound, the CEO of health think-tank Galen Centre for Health and Social Policy, Azrul Mohd Khalib has warned we are on the brink of a national renal disease crisis, with about 15.5 per cent or more than five million of the population currently living with chronic kidney disease (CKD).
Even more troubling is the projection by the Health Ministry that over 106,000 Malaysians may require dialysis by 2040 if current trends persist.
It is a ticking time bomb, poised to explode unless we take decisive action without any delay.
At the heart of this crisis lies a harsh truth — kidney failure is a lifestyle disease, its roots firmly entrenched in unhealthy habits and sedentary living.
SGH head of nephrology Dr. Clare Tan warns that diabetes, fuelled by unhealthy dietary choices and lack of exercise, is the main reason for renal diseases in our country. The consequences are dire, with a rising tide of patients facing the prospects of life-long dependence on dialysis.
But it’s not just a health crisis; it’s an economic one too. The financial burden of kidney failure weighs heavily on the shoulders of our government, diverting precious resources away from vital infrastructure and social programmes.
In 2010 alone, RM572 million was spent on treating end-stage renal disease (ESRD), a figure that has since ballooned to over RM3 billion annually for CKD and ESRD care.
The Social Security Organisation (SOCSO) too has felt the strain, forking out RM334.67 million on dialysis treatments in 2022 alone. With each passing year, the cost skyrockets, draining the coffers and threatening the stability of our healthcare system. Sarawak policymakers and healthcare officials must act fast too before kidney diseases and diabetes get the better of us.
Yet amidst the gloom, there is a ray of hope. Prevention, they say, is the best cure, and nowhere is this truer than in the case of renal failure.
Regular screenings for diabetes and high blood pressure can serve as early warning signs, enabling prompt intervention and potentially averting the onset of CKD. Awareness, too, is important, empowering individuals to take charge of their health and make informed choices.
But the road ahead is fraught with challenges. Azrul has called for affirmative action, urging a renewed commitment to kidney health strategies and policies.
With the diabetes epidemic showing no signs of abating, the time to act is now. By tackling the root causes of CKD and adopting preventive measures, we can stem the tide of this silent scourge and secure a healthier future for all Sarawakians, and Malaysians in general.
In the battle against kidney failure, every individual must play a role. Whether it is adopting healthier lifestyle habits or advocating for policy change, each action brings us one step closer to victory.
Let us be kind to our kidneys, our body’s unsung heroes, and in doing so, pave the way for a brighter, healthier Malaysia.
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The views expressed here are those of the columnist and do not necessarily represent the views of New Sarawak Tribune.
