It is a common perception that kidney failure is associated with older age. But we see many young lads suffering from chronic kidney disease at the peak of their youth. Such is the story of Akber, a 29-year-old boy who has lost his kidneys and is living on Dialysis.
Akber belongs to a low-income family in Rahimyarkhan, Punjab. He didn't get the chance to get an education due to his challenging family circumstances. They are three siblings; he and his brother are working hard to earn a living for their family.
He is a cheerful boy, but when he was diagnosed with CKD due to multiple kidney stones, he was devastated. In Rahimyarkhan, he couldn't even find any affordable options for his treatment. His older brother, a fruit seller in Karachi, called him here. In June 2021, he was registered at Al-Mustafa. From then onwards, he gets Dialysis and other treatments at zero cost.
Treatments provided other than Dialysis
At Al-Mustafa Dialysis Unit, we also provide treatments to CKD patients suggested by physicians other than Dialysis. This includes:
For instance, a few months ago, Akbar contracted a severe chest infection and was admitted to Al-Mustafa Hospital for treatment.
CKD and Hepatitis C
Hepatitis C is one of the most common factors that lead to kidney failure. Many patients at our Dialysis Unit are Hepatitis +ve, and Akbar is one of them. To keep other Hepatitis patients safe, we have dedicated two dialyzers solely to perform Dialysis for such patients.
Past Quarter Progress
October 2022
November 2022
December 2022
January 2023
Dear Folks,
Please accept our sincere apologies for reaching out pretty late. The ongoing disaster in Pakistan has shifted our focus to providing immediate relief to flood victims; thus, much of the routine work got a bit delayed.
Dialysis Machines are not ordinary machines not only because of their complex mechanism but because these machines are the hope of life for the patients who have lost their kidneys. Apart from transplantation being so expensive, it is a major surgical procedure and comes with many risks, not everyone gets a match in the first place, and those who do get a match may have to deal with rejection and other complications.
For many reasons, the majority of patients in Pakistan can't get a transplant, and for them, the only hope for a better life is the Dialysis Machine. These machines let the patient live a better and longer life.
At Al-Mustafa Dialysis Unit, the registered patients belong to extremely poor or white-collar families. In these challenging times of inflation, they simply do not have enough resources to support their basic life needs. The expensive Dialysis treatment is a luxury for them. So we take care of their treatment and provide dialysis and other required medications.
A NEW MACHINE FOR NEW PATIENTS
In the past quarter, a new Dialysis Machine made its way to Al-Mustafa Dialysis Unit to serve the increasing number of patients. We have registered 16 new patients so far and many more are expected to be registered soon. The available machines were insufficient to provide services for the increasing number of patients; therefore, a new dialysis machine was purchased and installed urgently.
776 DIALYSIS SESSIONS AND 335 EPOs
In the past quarter, our team has performed 776 Successful Dialysis Sessions, and 335 Erhtropietin Injections were administered. Erythropoietin (EPO) is a naturally occurring hormone produced by kidneys which stimulate the bone marrow to produce Red Blood Cells. In renal failure, the kidneys produce less or no EPO resulting in anaemia. It is an essential and costly drug for CKD patients; poor patients simply cannot afford it.
DIALYSIS PATIENTS' SPECIAL DIET
CKD patients also suffer from the loss of protein. Therefore, our consultants recommend a protein-rich diet for patients or prescribe protein supplements to maintain healthy levels of proteins in the body.
Assalam-o-Alaikum and Ramadan Kareem!
I hope you're doing good.
Ramadan is the month of blessings for Muslims around the globe. During a fast, one has to abstain from food and drinks from dawn to sunset. Fasting is not just a ritual, but it is done to purify our inner self, body and soul alike. It reminds us to feel the hunger of the poor and the thirst of those who have no or limited access to clean water. Fasting for the whole month does seem like a difficult task but trust me, Muslims crave Ramadan. Patients, the elderly, travellers, little children, etc., can skip the fast, but they miss fasting as much as they miss a loved one. It gets difficult for parents to convince their children and for physicians to persuade their patients from abstaining fast.
According to a research study published in 2021 in Clinical Kidney Journal, "Fasting can be especially challenging in patients on haemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis. Moreover, there is concern that those with chronic kidney disease (CKD) can experience electrolyte imbalance and worsen renal function."
Seminar on World Kidney Day
The theme for this year's World Kidney Day was "kidney Health for All", but since Ramdan was near the corner, our senior-most speakers also decided to address the effects and management of fasting in CKD patients. This public awareness seminar was a hit, and the audience found it informative and interesting. The speakers included two renowned consultants, Dr Obaid Hashmi and Dr Beenish Imam.
Treatment Summary for the Past Quarter
Dialysis Sessions - 739
Erythropoietin Injections - 285
Iron Sucrose Injections - 100
We will continue to send you more exciting updates from the field. Till then, stay hydrated and take care of your kidneys.
Links:
Dear friends, this is our first report on this project. Before we dive into the details of the report, I'd like to give you a brief history and introduction of the Al-Mustafa Dialysis Unit.
History
The Al-Mustafa Hospital has an expert team of healthcare providers all over the hospital and the dialysis unit. The Dialysis Unit was established in the Year 1998 with few machines, and approximately 2331 sessions of dialysis were carried out in the same year.
OBJECTIVES:
Dialysis Team:
In our Unit, under the supervision of Dr Khurram Danyal (Consultant Nephrologist), an experienced RMO and a team of qualified technical nursing staff are providing the best treatment and care for the CKD patients requiring dialysis. The treatment is free of cost and has been continued during the pandemic.
Equipment
You must be aware that dialysis treatment mainly depends on the dialyzers and a highly expert tech team. To keep the dialyzers in their best working conditions, we have a Renatron Machine that helps clean dialyzers. The Unit also has its standard-sized RO-Plant that provides water to the Dialysis machines. A culture and sensitivity test of the water is performed from the PCSIR Laboratories (Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research) every six months.
Services
The patients are given the following services in addition to dialysis.
Investigations:
Hb
Creatinine
Calcium
Potassium
Phosphorus
Medication:
Erythropoietin Injections
Iron Sucrose Injections
Refreshment:
According to health standards, a healthy diet is provided during dialysis.
Public Awareness
At Al-Mustafa Welfare Society's Healthcare division tries to treat different diseases. Still, we also believe in playing an active role in spreading awareness about the prevention and management of diseases. In this regard, Al-Mustafa's Public Awareness Campaign Managers frequently arrange Seminars and CMEs regarding awareness and prevention of renal diseases and also celebrate World Kidney Day every year on the 2nd Thursday of March.
Treatment Summary of the Past Quarter
Dialysis Sessions 553
Erythropoietin Injections 227
Iron Sucrose Injections 90
We will continue to send you updates in the coming months.
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