There is an invisible kidney tsunami that people are not paying enough attention to in Singapore and one that we cannot hide from. Six people are diagnosed with kidney failure every day, and this is three times more patients than two decades ago. A recent documentary, produced by Channel NewsAsia in partnership with NKF, shares more about the rising number of people with chronic kidney disease (CKD) with many more undiagnosed, and the catastrophic consequences if nothing is done to stem the tide. In this issue, we highlight some notable quotes from experts in the renal field that encapsulate the seriousness of this big wave that is looming and what needs to be done urgently.

As many people might not know they have CKD – owing to its silent symptoms – it is vital that individuals get their kidneys screened. Kidney screening involves two simple tests which are key to detecting CKD. One is a simple blood test to detect creatinine, an indicator of toxin in the body, and would also tell if the kidneys are performing well. The other is a urine test to check if the kidneys’ filtering function has been affected. Early detection means a better quality of life and more manageable costs.

We all can do our part by adopting healthier eating habits. Dining out has become woven into our food culture and customs for many of us because we are caught up in our busy lives and do not have time to prepare home-cooked meals. How can we ensure we are having a well-balanced meal when we eat out? In Daily Dose of Health, we share some tips on how you can include the various food groups when dining out.

While we do our best to prevent kidney disease and curb the onset of kidney failure, the sobering and unnerving fact remains that more and more patients are turning to us for life-saving dialysis treatment. Our clinical and non-clinical staff continue to do all we can to provide our patients with holistic care and empower them to take greater control of their own treatment outcomes to lead purposeful lives. In Life-saving Care, we feature our head of nursing Pauline Tan, who has spent more than 28 years of her career journeying with such patients. Conferred with the President’s Award for Nurses this year – the highest accolade in nursing – she shares with us on how she remains committed in her role to overcome her challenges and lead her team of nurses in making a difference in patients’ rehabilitation journey. We also highlight nurses Pang Get Sun and Xu Chun, winners of the Ministry of Health’s Nurses’ Merit Award, for making patients’ lives better through their care and compassion.

Another inspiring story we feature is that of Puah Sheng Yee, a young family man who is living a simple yet fulfilling life despite having kidney failure. His choice of home-based peritoneal dialysis (PD) has granted him freedom to choose how he lives his life, without disruption from having to spend hours in the dialysis centre during the day. This enables him to hold on to his full-time job in the day and spend more quality time with his wife and three young children. He is also able to travel overseas on holiday with them and carry out his PD conveniently as he only needs to bring along the PD solution with him.

While we strive on relentlessly to strengthen and enhance our kidney care programme to benefit patients, let us continue to take care of our health as we ride out the impending storm for a healthier and more resilient society. Our work may be monumental but having your continuous support for our cause drives us as we forge ahead. For this, we remain ever thankful.

Tim Oei
Chief Executive Officer