EFFORTS are being made in order to make
kidney transplantation treatment available in the country following the
increase in the number of patients requiring renal replacement therapy (RRT) as
treatment for final stages of their kidney failure.
Patients
undergoing RRT in Brunei had climbed from 524 in 2010 to 585 in March 2012.
Thirty-four of them had undergone kidney transplantation while the remainder
were treated with hemodialysis (HD) and peritonil dialysis (PD) the three
methods of treatment for RRT.
Currently,
Brunei sends patients to Singapore and Malaysia for kidney transplant
treatment.
Dr Hjh
Lailawati Hj Jumat, Director of Hospital Services at the Ministry of Health
(MoH), said this during the "World Kidney Day 2012" celebration held
in Suri Seri Begawan Hospital, Kuala Belait, yesterday.
"Efforts
are being made in order to prepare for kidney transplant treatment here in
Brunei in the future once the expertise and facility needed are available,"
she highlighted.
According
to Dr Hjh Lailawati, there are 1,356 patients found to be in stage I, II, III
and early stage IV of chronic kidney disease while 156 patients are in the
final stage IV and V.
"Once
patients suffered from End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD), when the function of
their kidney falls to less than 10 per cent and showed sign of symptoms, then
the treatment available is only RRT," said Dr Hjh Lailawati.
Before
going for kidney transplantation operation, there are criteria the recipient
and kidney donor have to follow according to Kidney Transplantation Policy in
the country as well as the policy of the country where the operation takes
place.
Patients
who suffered from kidney failure are encouraged to choose kidney
transplantation treatment, said Dr Hjh Lailawati.
"However,
the government does not encourage patients to receive treatment from
unaccredited places or accept kidneys from those without blood ties because
this can encourage kidney trafficking as well as put the patients (at
risk)," Dr Hjh Lailawati stressed.
"His
Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam's government will
continue to strive to offer the best services to patients without counting the
cost of treatment so that patients can continue to lead life as best as
possible," she added.
The
event yesterday was a continuation of the "World Kidney Day"
celebrated in March specially for Belait District as the district has the
second biggest kidney centre in the country.
A forum
was also held to increase the awareness on chronic kidney disease and
preparations to handle the disease.
It also
ensured families of patients who suffered from ESRD understand the kidney
transplantation procedure. As the theme of this year's World Kidney Day in
Brunei is "Donate a kidney for life", the forum aimed to inform that
kidney transplantation can improve a patient's quality of life.
After
the forum, a health screening was held for the audience to perform health
check-ups.
FUNG
SIEW MUN
The
Brunei Times
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