SINGAPORE: The National Kidney Foundation has officially launched its first volunteer programme, NKF Circle of Hearts.
For dialysis patients, this means getting some companionship during their treatments.
Imagine having a dialysis machine as your only companion for five hours.
That is what kidney dialysis patients like Aaron Graham Tay have to live with as they undergo their treatment.
But this unpleasant experience can be made tolerable with the support of family and friends.
The NKF has recognised this and in response has set up the Circle of Hearts Volunteer Programme.
Gerard Ee, Chairman, National Kidney Foundation, said: "We went to the dialysis centre and spoke to many of the patients. We realised that many of the patients do feel lonely."
"Medicine and machines can only go a certain way to give you the well being. There is nothing to replace the human touch."
For dialysis patient P M Nadarajan, that human touch came from volunteer S A Thiru.
"He comes [three times a] week. He buys me food and drinks and all this. From the dialysis centre, he will push me all the way to the nursing home," said P M Nadarajan.
S A Thiru, an NKF Circle of Hearts Volunteer, said: "I believe very strongly the more you give, the more you receive. You know I think I am benefiting more from this programme rather than Mr Rajan himself."
It is this spirit of altruism the NKF hopes will spread to the larger community.
The organisation aims to attract a total of 200 volunteers by the end of this year.
-
CNA
