Rotary JB to build second dialysis centre

In a recent Gala Dinner, the Rotary Club of Johor Baru (RCJB) raised RM1.3 million to set up their second haemodialysis centre.

Generous donors presenting their gift cheques to RCJB
president, Freddie Lee [5th from Right] while representative
of Johor Menteri Besar, Vidyananthan Ramanathan [4th from
Right] pledged RM30,000 from the state government

The RCJB, the first NGO to provide subsidised dialysis treatments to needy patients in Johor Baru since 1992, aims to open their next dialysis centre in Bandar Seri Alam.

It all started in 1989 when the Rotarians of the RCJB were encouraged by then Sultan of Johor, the late Sultan Iskandar Sultan Ismail, to establish large scale projects that would make a difference to the community in the long term.

This spurred them to set up their first dialysis centre at Wisma Abad in 1992, a project which expanded to a 4-storey shoplot at Jalan Tun Abdul Razak and was officially declared open by Sultan Iskandar in 2004.

RCJB continues to help needy patients lighten their burden with a highly subsidised rate of only RM60 per treatment, compared to the commercial cost of over RM250 per treatment, at their JB centre equipped with 19 dialysis machines to meet the needs of 80 patients in two daily treatment sessions.

RCJB president, Freddie Lee, giving his speech 

This initiative by the RCJB in JB has inspired other Rotary Clubs in Johor to set up similar treatment centres in JB, Kulai, Pontian, Kota Tinggi, Kluang, Mersing and Batu Pahat to meet the needs of the increasing number of patients.

“The second treatment centre will be situated in Bandar Seri Alam to serve the needs of patients in Bandar Seri Alam, Taman Megah Ria, Masai and Pasir Gudang,” said RCJB president, Freddie Lee.  He said the estimated population within a 10-km radius of the proposed centre is more than 300,000 people.

Guest-of-honour for the Gala Dinner, Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohd Khaled Nordin was represented by Johor State Exco Chairman for National Unity and Human Resources, Vidyananthan Ramanathan.

On behalf of the Johor Menteri Besar, Vidyananthan announced that the state government pledged to contribute RM30,000 towards the RCJB Haemodialysis Project.

Mock cheques were presented to the RCJB in generous donations from the family of the late Lim Kay Hua, Datuk Chua Song Lim Foundation, United Malayan Land Bhd, AME Construction Sdn Bhd, Tiong Nam Logistics Solutions Sdn Bhd, Tan Koon Seng and Dr Angamuthu Rajoo.

The handout for the RCJB fund-raising event with
a donation slip inside for donors to complete and submit

As the community grows, the need to provide affordable dialysis treatment has also grown and this led to the initiative to set up a second dialysis centre for patients in and around Bandar Seri Alam.

This new centre, known as the Rotary Haemodialysis Centre @ Seri Alam, would be initially equipped with at least 15 dialysis machines and gradually increased as the need arises.

The estimated costs involved for building renovation, dialysis machines, a reverse osmosis water purification system and other fittings, is estimated in the region of RM700,000.

As a not-for-profit treatment centre, the RCJB needs consistent public support to sustain operating costs which is estimated to be around RM200,000 a year.  To donate, email to: lihui@umland.com.my or Tel: 607 – 3881111.

A version of this was published in The Malaysian Insider on 7 March 2016