Present for the people: A nurse attending to dialysis patients at a Yasa Haemodialysis Centre in Pekan. — Bernama
PEKAN: During his five-year reign as Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah has created sweet memories to be forever cherished by his subjects.
One of those moments was when he gifted kidney patients with the setting up of the Yayasan Al-Sultan Abdullah (Yasa) Haemodialysis Centres.
The centres provide free treatment to kidney patients, especially among the M40 and B40 groups, which serve as a clear manifestation of His Majesty’s deep concern for the people’s health.
Sharing the story behind the setting up of the centres, Yasa general manager Mohd Fakhrul Islam Juhali said, after ascending the throne as Malaysia’s 16th King, Sultan Abdullah was briefed by the Health Ministry about the country’s healthcare services, including the number of kidney patients.
“His Majesty was informed that there were about 50,000 patients who required dialysis treatment, with an estimated increase of 8,000 new patients each year.
“During his engagement with the people, the King discovered that many citizens had to bear the treatment costs themselves.
“As a result, Al-Sultan Abdullah and Raja Permaisuri Agong (Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah), along with their children, graciously decided to lend assistance.
“This led to the opening of the first Yasa Haemodialysis Centre in Cheras in 2019 and the most recent one in Jerantut last year,” he told Bernama in an interview.
The Yasa Haemodialysis Centre in Jerantut is the fifth facility opened after Taman Melati, Kuala Lumpur, which was inaugurated on July 28, 2022.
Other facilities are in Pekan, Pahang, launched on Dec 11, 2021, as well as Setiawangsa and Cheras in Kuala Lumpur, which commenced operations on Aug 12, 2020 and Aug 7, 2019, respectively.
According to Mohd Fakhrul, each centre is furnished with up to 12 dialysis machines, as well as comfortable facilities and treatment spaces for patients that are on par with other haemodialysis centres in the country.
At present, about 250 patients from various ethnic backgrounds, including Orang Asli, are undergoing treatment across the five haemodialysis centres.
Mohd Fakhrul said Sultan Abdullah’s concern for the people’s well-being was also evident when His Majesty instructed the implementation of more health-related programmes, especially in Pahang.
“As a result, we initiated the Jelajah Kesihatan Rakyat programme in collaboration with private and public agencies.
“His Majesty believes that prevention is better than cure,” he said.
Meanwhile, former factory worker Bakri Majid, 67, expressed his sincere gratitude to His Majesty for providing a comfortable haemodialysis centre, which enabled kidney patients like him to receive free treatment for the past two years.
“I’m now without a source of income, and I don’t need to worry about any expenses when receiving treatment here (in Pekan).
“The centre even provides convenient pick-up and drop-off services. I am genuinely thankful for this invaluable facility,” said the Kampung Pulau Jawa resident.
Sultan Abdullah will complete his term as the 16th Yang di-Pertuan Agong tomorrow, and the Sultan of Johor, Sultan Ibrahim Ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar, will begin his reign as the 17th Yang di-Pertuan Agong for a five-year term, effective Jan 31.
