The National Kidney Foundation Singapore (NKF) is a non-profit health organisation in Singapore. Its mission is to render services to kidney patients, encourage and promote renal research, as well as to carry out public education programs on kidney diseases. As of February 2016, NKF has 29
dialysis centres in Singapore.
History
Early years
NKF was founded in the early 1960s, after
nephrologist
Nephrology (from Greek'' nephros'' "kidney", combined with the suffix ''-logy'', "the study of") is a specialty of adult internal medicine and pediatric medicine that concerns the study of the kidneys, specifically normal kidney function (ren ...
Prof. Khoo Oon Teik witnessed many people suffering from kidney failure, including his own brother, Reverend Khoo Oon Eng. During that time, about 200 Singaporeans were dying each year from kidney failure. As a result, Prof. Khoo was determined to set up a National Kidney Foundation to help needy kidney patients. NKF was inaugurated on 7 April 1969, on
World Health Day
World Health Day is a global health awareness day celebrated every year on 7 April, under the sponsorship of the World Health Organization (WHO), as well as other related organizations.
In 1948, the WHO held the First World Health Assembly. Th ...
, by President
Yusof Ishak
Yusof bin Ishak (12 August 191023 November 1970) was a Singaporean politician and journalist who served as the first president of Singapore from 1965 until his death in 1970.
Prior to becoming head of state, Yusof was a well-known journalis ...
.
Opening of satellite dialysis centres
In September 1982, NKF officially opened its first dialysis centre at the
Kwong Wai Shiu Hospital. However, due to insufficient resources, it could only admit few patients. NKF started building dialysis centres in the vacant flats of
HDB estates to lower costs and increase accessibility to dialysis for kidney patients. In 1987, the NKF's first satellite dialysis centre was established in
Toa Payoh
Toa Payoh (, ta, தோ பாயோ) is a planning area and matured residential town located in the northern part of the Central Region of Singapore. Toa Payoh planning area borders Bishan and Serangoon to the north, the Central Water Catc ...
.
New headquarters
On 6 October 2001, a new building for NKF's headquarters was commissioned on Kim Keat Road. Singapore Buddhist Welfare Services, the late Tay Choon Hye, the
Shaw Foundation
Shaw Organisation is a film distribution company and cinema chain founded by brothers Runme Shaw and Run Run Shaw who went to Singapore in the 1920s to expand their family business founded by Runje Shaw. The company originally operated as a dis ...
,
Singapore Pools
Singapore Pools (Private) Limited is a state-owned lottery subsidiary company in Singapore. As a wholly owned subsidiary of the Tote Board, it is the only operator that is legally allowed to run lotteries in Singapore.
History
Singapore Pools wa ...
and the
Lee Foundation
Lee Foundation is Singapore's largest private charitable foundation. It was founded in 1952 by philanthropist and businessman Lee Kong Chian, and has since supported various educational causes, healthcare and medical endowments as well as disaster ...
contributed a total of $21 million to the cost of building the NKF Centre.
The Children's Kidney Centre
In 2002, the Shaw Foundation donated $4 million to open a Children's Kidney Centre at the National University Hospital to support children with kidney diseases.
Scandal and aftermath
In July 2005, a new board and management team was formed for a leaner, cost-effective NKF, after former CEO,
T.T Durai
Thambirajah Tharmadurai (born 22 April 1948), better known as T. T. Durai, is a Singaporean who formerly served as the chief executive officer (CEO) of the non-profit health organisation National Kidney Foundation Singapore (NKF). The central figu ...
, and directors stepped down due to breach of fiduciary duties, among others.
Following a recovery from the scandal, Chairman Gerard Ee, handed over the reins in 2012 to Koh Poh Tiong. In 2013, CEO Eunice Tay retired, and Edmund Kwok took over.
On 16 November 2016, the NKF board held a press conference announcing that Edmund Kwok was removed from his position as CEO, due to a police case involving Kwok and a NKF male employee.
Education and prevention
Aside from providing dialysis treatment, NKF also focuses on kidney disease education and prevention, against as
diabetes
Diabetes, also known as diabetes mellitus, is a group of metabolic disorders characterized by a high blood sugar level ( hyperglycemia) over a prolonged period of time. Symptoms often include frequent urination, increased thirst and increased ap ...
and
hypertension
Hypertension (HTN or HT), also known as high blood pressure (HBP), is a long-term medical condition in which the blood pressure in the arteries is persistently elevated. High blood pressure usually does not cause symptoms. Long-term high bl ...
, which are leading causes of kidney failure.
The Schools Outreach Programme teaches children about kidney functions, kidney failure, and how kidney patients cope with this chronic condition. The program includes visits to the Kidney Discovery Centre at NKF's headquarters; school assembly talks, and health booths at schools; and the Kidney Health Education Bus, which has health screening stations.
The Little Champs and Young Champs Programmes aim to strengthen students’ leadership abilities and inspire them to make a difference to the community and in the lives of kidney patients.
‘Healthy Mondays’ is a programme for adults. Introduced to organisations and corporations, it consists of health talks, health screenings and exercises to nurture healthy lifestyles for employees.
NKF also works with local media, healthcare and social agencies, grass-roots organisations, and institutions to disseminate health messages.
Providing peritoneal dialysis
NKF also promotes Peritoneal Dialysis (PD) allowing kidney patients to have more flexibility and control of their lifestyle, by undergoing treatment at home. To encourage PD and build the confidence of patients undergoing this treatment, the NKF has a Comprehensive PD Community Support Programme where trained and experienced PD nurses work closely with the hospitals to support PD patients at home to help them start and stay well on PD.
Notable programmes
Besides providing dialysis, NKF has instituted patient welfare programs, helping patients cope with illness, aiding them with re-integrating into society, as well as supporting their families.
Patient Employment Rehabilitation Programme
In November 2015, NKF launched the Patient Employment Rehabilitation Programme, to match jobless patients with suitable jobs, and hire some patients as staff.
Kidney Live Donor Support Programme
In 2009, the Kidney Live Donor Support Programme was launched to provide financial assistance for needy live donors to ensure that costs were not an obstacle for the donor's long-term medical follow-up.
Partnerships
NKF partners with the
Ministry of Health, other healthcare providers and the community, to increase awareness of kidney disease and prevention, promote kidney transplantation, and encourage home dialysis and to improve dialysis care.
References
External links
Official website{{authority control
Medical and health organisations based in Singapore
Singaporean voluntary welfare organisations
Foundations based in Singapore
Medical and health foundations
Organizations established in 1969
1969 establishments in Singapore