Free Dialysis for poor patients in Pakistan

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:

• Inj. Erythropoietin: Erythropoietin injection is given twice a month to boost red blood cell production.  
• Iron Therapy: IV Iron supplements to prevent iron deficiency. 
• Oral Medication: Iron and calcium supplements. 
• Lab Investigations: 
  • CBC
  • Urea
  • Creatinine
  • Electrolytes
  • Ca+
  • Fe+

• Refreshments during the session.
• Treatment facilities for other active complaints of patients such as infections, fever, etc. 

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

• Dialysis Sessions: 86                   
• Inj. Erythropoietin:      95        
• Iron therapy: 39

November 2022

• Dialysis Sessions: 52                
• Inj. Erythropoietin:          76    
• Iron therapy: 32

December 2022

• Dialysis Sessions: 58                
• Inj. Erythropoietin:              83
• Iron therapy: 37

January 2023

• Dialysis Sessions: 65                
• Inj. Erythropoietin:   86           
• Iron therapy: 37

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.