The Malaysian Society of Nephrology marked the inaugural World Kidney Day on March 9th, 2006 with several activities in Kuala Lumpur and Penang. In Kuala Lumpur, events included an official launch, press conference, public education forum attended by 128 people, free health screenings for 616 people, a public exhibition on chronic kidney disease, a workshop on retarding renal disease for 73 healthcare professionals, and banners displayed around Hospital Kuala Lumpur. In Penang, a press conference was held. Posters on early detection and prevention of kidney disease were also distributed to nephrologists around Malaysia and a radio interview was conducted about chronic kidney disease and World Kidney

1. The Malaysian Society of Nephrology (MSN) working in collaboration with
the National Kidney Foundation of Malaysia (NKF) and the Association of
Dialysis Managers and Nurses (ADMAN) marked the inaugural World
Kidney Day on March 9th
2006 with the following activities:
In Kuala Lumpur
1.Official launch of World Kidney Day – this event was officiated by
the Parliamentary Secretary for the Malaysian Ministry of Health, the
Honourable Dato’ Lee Kah Choon at the Main Auditorium of Hospital
Kuala Lumpur on 9th
March 2006.

2. 2.Press conference - following the official launch, the Parliamentary
Secretary for the Ministry of Health (The Hon. Dato’ Lee Kah Choon),
the President of the Malaysian Society of Nephrology (Dr. Hooi Lai
Seong), the Chairman of the National Kidney Foundation Malaysia (Dr.
S.S. Gill), the Head of the Department of Nephrology Hospital Kuala
Lumpur and Vice-Chairman of NKF (Dato’Dr Zaki Morad bin Mohamed
Zaher) and Director of Hospital Kuala Lumpur (Dr.Azmi Shapie) held a
press conference with journalists from a selected number of major dailies
that provide coverage in three of the major languages in Malaysia i.e.
English, Malay and Chinese

3. 3. Public education forum. This involved a 45 minute lecture to cover
basic aspects of kidney function and disease, followed by a Q&A session
with a panel of nephrologists.
The activity was attended by a total of 128 participants

4. 4. Free health screening for kidney disease. This involved urine
testing, dextrostix testing and blood pressure measurement. It was held
for 2 days, from 10am to 2pm and 4pm to 7pm on 9th
and 10th
March
2006. Nephrology specialists and two Consultant Nephrologists assisted
with counseling sessions at the screening site and arranged for further
follow-up of any abnormalities detected.
The total number of people screened was 616.

5. 5. Public Exhibition on CKD. An exhibition using posters, dialysis
machines and a CAPD model as educational tools was set up in the
Main Lobby of Hospital Kuala Lumpur. Members of the NKF and
ADMAN assisted at the exhibition to answer questions from visitors.

6. 6. Retardation of Renal Disease Workshop - A half-day workshop for
medical officers and allied healthcare professionals from primary and
secondary care clinics in the Klang Valley region. This program has already
been running since 2003 and has been carried out in all 13 states of
Malaysia. The program is now doing a second round of the country. The
program covers the following topics:
i. Introduction to Chronic Kidney Disease and the
importance of retarding renal disease progression
ii. Early detection of renal disease
iii. Management of diabetic nephropathy
iv. Antihypertensive therapy and progression of renal
failure
v. General strategies of renal protection
vi. Prevention of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in
renal failure
On the 9th
of March 2006, 73 people attended this workshop at the Main
Auditorium of Hospital Kuala Lumpur. The lectures were given by 4
Consultant Nephrologists and 2 Nephrology Specialists.

7. 7. Display of a giant banner and buntings at various sites within the
Hospital Kuala Lumpur to publicize World Kidney Day
In Penang
A press conference was held by the Head of the Department of Medicine
and Senior Consultant Nephrologist of Hospital Pulau Pinang (Dr. Rozina
Ghazalli).
Others :
1. A set of posters was commissioned with the theme of Early Detection and
Prevention. These were sent to members of the Malaysian Society of
Nephrology representing every state for display at their respective hospital
outpatient clinics.
2. A live radio interview was given by a Consultant Nephrologist on the
morning of 9th
March to highlight CKD and the World Kidney Day.