On 13 April 2019, Duli Yang Maha Mulia Raja Permaisuri Perak Darul Ridzuan Tuanku Zara Salim launched myKidney 2019 today in Kompleks Perdana Siswa, University of Malaya (UM).
With the tagline “Be Someone’s Reason To Be Alive”, myKidney project aims to develop talent and strengthen their knowledge in kidney transplantation, thus increasing the number of kidney transplant in the country. A 'Transplantation Research Centre' network will be created in stages and will be the backbone of Research & Development in the area of kidney transplant in Malaysia.
The 24th Report of the Malaysian Dialysis & Transplant Registry 2016 stated that there were 37,183 patients receiving dialysis, a 2.5-fold increase as compared to the last decade. Despite the rapid increase in dialysis population, the number of kidney transplantation performed in patients had remained very low, with not more than 100 cases per annum for the past years. As of October 2018, there were 25,000 kidney patients in Malaysia who are still waiting to undergo kidney transplant procedures.
“myKidney is an integrated Corporate Social Responsibility project under the CEO@Faculty Programme 2.0, Ministry of Education Malaysia, established to organize efforts from interested stakeholders towards a concerted approach for patients with chronic kidney disease”, said Associate Professor Dr. Ivy Chung, Director of myKidney Launch and Fun Run 2019.
myKidney project was initiated in early 2018 when Dr. Ivy was doing a 6-month industrial attachment in healthcare industry. She realised the number of kidney patients in Malaysia increases by about 1,000 every year. Together with the Industry Relations Division, she is called upon to set up a platform that allows various ministries, industry partners and relevant agencies to discuss and find solutions for this societal issue.
Dr. Rafidah Abdullah, Consultant Nephrologist and Head of Department at Hospital Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah, Temerloh, Pahang highlights that “Chronic kidney disease may eventually result in complete kidney failure. When the kidneys totally fail, either dialysis or a kidney transplant is required. Dialysis does not cure end-stage renal disease. A transplant offers the closest thing to a normal life because the transplanted kidney can replace the failed kidneys”.
Professor Dr Arham Abdullah, Director of Industry Relations Division, Ministry of Education Malaysia, explains that myKidney project will be an example of how critical social issues such as inadequate kidney transplant in our country can be dealt with integrated collaboration.
“Knowledge alone is inadequate, even the spirit of empathy and strengthening the powerful collaboration can reduce the gap among the parties with its own direction. Such an effort is compatible with our public education philosophy, and as such, it is desirable to officially launch myKidney project”, he added.
Earlier before the launching, myKidney Fun Run was flagged off with more than 500 participation from the public. Fund raised from this run will be channeled to a Patient Welfare Account at University of Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC) and will be used to assist underprivileged chronic kidney disease patients who require a kidney transplant.
During the launching, the queen who was also the Patron of myKidney has visited the health exhibition. Health screening, Organ Donation campaign, advocacy sesssions, cooking demostartion by Dato' Fazley Yaakob and performance by Imran Ajmain were among the activiites held during the launching.
