Offering a ray of hope for renal patients - The Hindu Print

The Kidney Patients Welfare Society functioning under the Malappuram district panchayat here will pass yet another milestone when the world observes International Kidney Day on Thursday. Hundreds of renal patients in the district are dependent on the society.

The society is celebrating its seventh anniversary on Thursday. What makes the society unique is its method of fund collection. Without seeking the help of the State or Central governments, or international agencies, the society has raised crores of rupees to help renal patients in the district. The charity of the people of Malappuram was found at its best when it came to donating for the cause of renal patients.

The society, which began functioning in 2007 by raising Rs.3 lakh for the benefit of less than 50 renal patients, has benefitted more than 2,000 patients so far. They have got aid to the tune of more than Rs.10 crore. As many as 1,387 patients continue to get the help of the society. Among them are 1,018 dialysis patients and 369 renal transplant patients.

Rs.3.87 crore

Society secretary Ummer Arakkal said that Rs.3.87 crore was required to help the patients this year. When dialysis patients were getting an aid of Rs.2,000 a month, renal transplant patients were being provided with their expensive medicines. “We will give the medicines throughout their life,” said Mr. Ummer.

Awareness programmes are being arranged in association with schools in the district. More than 10 lakh leaflets were distributed through students last year.

The society’s documentary, Just a Minute , was screened across the district. The society is running a free dialysis centre at district hospital, Tirur. Dialysis centres with the support of the society are functioning at Tirurangadi and Ponnani.

Kidney testing camps are being held across the district at regular intervals with the help of the Private Medical Laboratory Technicians Association. Select patients are given concessions for laboratory tests.

Mr. Ummer said that the project was being carried forward with the help of students, teachers, government employees, traders, socio-cultural activists, religious leaders, and the public.

Kidney Patients Welfare Society celebrates 7th anniversary today.

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