PENANG, Sept 16 (Sin Chew Daily) — The Malaysian branch of Buddha’s Light International Association (BLIA) and Yayasan Sin Chew jointly contribute a dialysis machine worth of RM45,000 to the Penang Hospital after learning that the number of dialysis patients testing positive for Covid-19 has increased drastically since July.

Both organizations jointly contributed a set of dialysis machine to ease the dependency on existing dialysis machines.

A set of dialysis machine has since been handed over to the Penang Hospital.Dr Liew Yew Fong, head of the nephrology department of

Penang Hospital said dialysis patients who test positive for Covid-19 are required to undergo dialysis while staying in the hospital.

Prior to July, the hospital handled fewer than 20 dialysis patients who tested positive for Covid-19.

The number of such patients has since increased to about 40.

To ensure safety, Covid-19 positive patients are  not allowed to share the same dialysis machine with non-Covid-19 patients.

Currently a total of ten dialysis machines are allocated for Covid-19 patients while the department still serves about 60 dialysis patients.

“With the increasing number of dialysis patients testing positive for Covid-19 and they are required to be hospitalized, demand for dialysis is even higher as a patient needs to undergo dialysis three times a week,’’ she said.

Ding Shu De, BLIA Malaysia branch vice president, said he learned from a volunteer that the dialysis unit at Penang Hospital was running at its maximum capacity and decided to step in to help.

The Penang branch of Buddhist group Fo Guang Shan also offers 30 sets of oxygen concentrator fo loan for people undergoing self-isolation.

Those in need of the medical device please contact 012-4739700 for further details.