Kindred Kinship (NK2): Kidney Care (National University of Medical Sciences, Pakistan)

Honorable Mention, 2023 MacJannet Prize

Kindred Kinship (NK2): Kidney Care received honorable mention for the 2023 MacJannet Prize. Ms. Saira Javed (Lecturer-Clinical Psychology, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Convener NUMS Civic Society), has been leading the National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS) Kindred Kinship (NK2): Kidney Care community services program with students from Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Multidisciplinary Sciences and Allied Health Sciences, NUMS, since 2019.  The term “Kidney Care” is used to describe a broad range of activities aimed at promoting compassion and kindness in society. These activities include providing for the physical and mental wellbeing of renal patients as well as those who are impacted by their medical condition.

According to recent report published in 2022, 22 million people in Pakistan are affected with renal problems, and out of these around 22,000 develop End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) every year. Under the slogan of World Health Organization (WHO) – promoting health for all – NK2 is passionate to work on several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs), particularly SDG 3 (Good Health and Wellbeing), SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

By fostering a sense of kinship with a stranger in order to foster kindness and charity, NUMS as a medical university is fulfilling its role as kindred. Kindred Kinship focuses majorly on the mental and emotional health of renal patients. It places a substantial emphasis on the health and happiness of those who are either directly or indirectly impacted by kidney diseases. It not only offers kidney disease patients treatment through coping techniques, but also raises awareness of renal disease among the general public. Moreover, it takes into account the welfare of healthcare workers, including medical staff so as to enhance their efficiency.

In 2022, unfathomable monsoons and floodwaters landed Pakistan in hot waters. NUMS Civic Society not only received Prime Minister Flood Heroes Award in appreciation of team services in the time of need but its project team NK2benevolently tightened their belts to help flood-stricken patients with renal issues, including patients on dialysis and kidney problems who had no access to dialysis facilities and required medications for days. All in all, NK2 team has facilitated 23 patients with renal problem and 51 care providers of renal patients including friends and family.

Testimonials

“When my doctor told me that both my kidneys were not functioning and I was going into complete kidney failure, my entire world crumbled into pieces. Being a mother of three beautiful children, all hell broke loose on me. NK2 helped me to look at the bigger picture with their constant help and support during my testing times. Although it is not a walk in the park to be hooked up to a machine to live another day, life is so very precious and I must fight for it for myself and all my loved ones. Thank you NK2 for helping me look at the bright side of this health challenge I was completely not prepared for. ”

– Nasreen Bibi, Dialysis Patient (Rawalpindi)

“Working with disease-stricken felt like a challenge in the very beginning. However, with each passing day of working with the NK2 team, I began to realize the importance and significance of all the blessings I took for granted all my life. My constant exposure with renal patients not only made me aware of my own kidney health and health choices but also induced a sense of responsibility in me to help those who are affected by it. In short, this program completely changed my outlook towards life and sensitized me towards those who are suffering from various kidney problems.”

– Mukarram Bin Afzal, Mental Health Social Worker (NK2 Team)

So far, NK2 has achieved more than half proposed UN Sustainable Development Goals including SDG 3, SDG 4, SDG 5, SDG 10, and SDG 17. Every day it strives to stay true to its slogan: Kidney Care for All. NK2 will endeavor to create an ecosystem which rests its foundation on moral relationships, in order to influence the influencers and become a catalyst of change for good health and wellbeing of community at large, focusing their work on Kidney Care by spreading awareness, organizing trainings, and holding focus-group discussions based on research conducted by core committee.