Yeo (centre) officiating the charity bazaar, with David (second left), Simon (left) and Alvis (right).
KOTA KINABALU: The Haemodialysis Kinabalu Sabah Association (PHKS) hopes more people will come forward with donations for needy kidney patients.
To date, the treatment centre of the association has received a total of 22 patients with kidney failure who were referred from the Queen Elizabeth Hospital here, said PHKS chairman Simon Tan.
“Managing a haemodialysis centre requires a very high cost as each patient needs approximately RM2,500 to RM3,000 a month and the cost is expected to continue to increase.
“Therefore, any fund donation from the public will at least lower the burden borne by the patients,” he said at a charity bazaar held in conjunction with the ninth anniversary of PHKS.
According to Simon, apart from fund donation, the public could also get themselves involved or sponsor any fund-raising projects.
He said that the main objective of PHKS is to provide quality treatment at a reasonable cost to patients who are financially disadvantaged, and at the same time spread awareness on the importance of kidneys to the public.
“Since we began operating in 2005, with public donation, PHKS has treated 37 patients as of August this year, with the lowest cost charged at RM13 per session.
“Patients with kidney failure often need to seek treatment three times a week, and in private healthcare institutions, they are charged RM260 to RM300 per session,” he explained.
Therefore, PHKS is happy to be a centre which provides medical treatments needed by patients according to what they could afford.
“With the continuous support from the public, we could make every dream of every patient a reality with the utilities provided,” he said.
Over 50 exhibition booths from various industries and agencies participated in the fund-raising charity bazaar organised in collaboration with JCI Tanjung Aru.
PHKS is targeting to raise about RM400,000 from the charity bazaar, which was held at Likas Sports Complex here yesterday.
Also present at the event were Kota Kinabalu City Hall director general Datuk Yeo Boon Hai; patron of PHKS, Datuk David Chu; advisor of PHKS, S.P.Loh and the president of JCI Tanjung Aru, Alvis Loo.