NKF Patients Manned Coffee Kiosk While Sharing Their Kidney Failure and Dialysis Journey in TPY West CC New NKF Dialysis Centre

According to the National Kidney Foundation (NKF), Singapore has one of the world’s highest incidences of kidney failure, with one new case every five hours.  

Given that many elderly residents suffer from this disease, improving accessibility is vital.

That’s why, even with 38 dialysis centres islandwide, the authorities opened yet another one recently.

New NKF Dialysis Centre Opens in Toa Payoh West CC

Good news for Toa Payoh residents: those who need kidney dialysis will be able to go to a newly-opened centre nearby.

The Seck Hong Choon-NKF dialysis centre was officially opened on Sunday (28 March) by Senior Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Transport Chee Hong Tat.

It’s the first NKF dialysis centre to be located in a community centre, constructed on the third storey of Toa Payoh West Community Club (CC).

The new dialysis centre, the country’s 39th, has 20 dialysis stations and can serve up to 120 patients.

The project was funded by NKF, Toa Payoh West CC, and Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery, who donated a total of $1.4 million to cover renovation and equipment expenses.

Toa Payoh West CC to Open Coffee Kiosk Manned By NKF Patients

As part of a community outreach drive, Toa Payoh West CC will set up a mobile coffee kiosk which will be manned by NKF patients.

In addition to granting them meaningful employment and the ability to show off their barista skills, these patients can also act as NKF ambassadors by sharing their kidney failure and dialysis journey with customers.

NKF will also partner with the Toa Payoh West-Thomson grassroot organisations to educate the public on the prevention and management of kidney diseases by displaying NKF posters in HDB residential areas located in Toa Payoh West.

Oldest NKF Centre in Singapore Gets $2 Million Revamp

Just this month, the oldest NKF centre in Singapore got a revamp after a $2m donation from the Lew Foundation, a local charity.

First built in 1990, the renovated centre now has 30 dialysis stations that can serve up to 180 patients a week.

Without any more partitions separating the patients, patients can now interact with one another while undergoing dialysis.

Practices to Reduce the Risk of Developing Kidney Disease

At the moment, Singapore has around 8,000 patients on dialysis.

And according to ST, an average of 855 new dialysis patients were admitted to the NKF every year for the past five years.

So, what can we do to reduce the risk of developing kidney disease?

Well, NKF says you should:

• Cut down on salt, sugar, and oil in your diet
• Quit smoking and reduce your alcohol intake
• Exercise regularly
• Monitor your blood pressure and blood sugar levels
• Prepare your own meals

As NKF’s chairman Arthur Lang said: “Let us sacrifice now for our good choices, (rather) than pay the heavy price down the road.”

Featured Image: Google Maps