In turning from a software professional to managing a kidney care centre and foundation, Kamal D. Shah has found his true calling
After being diagnosed with atypical Haemolytic Uremic Syndrome, Kamal D Shah was put on dialysis. He has been on dialysis for the past 15 years.
He started sharing his experiences and how to be psychologically prepared for the hospital visits and lifestyle changes of a dialysis patient in his blog www.kamaldshah.com. Vikram Vuppala and Sandeep Gudibanda came across his blog and got in touch with him, an association that led to the three them to start a kidney care centre, Nephroplus. Nephroplus was established in 2010 at Banjara Hills and has since expanded to eight centres in Andhra Pradesh and two in Bangalore.
“Once a patient is put on dialysis, he has to come to the centre thrice a week. It is a chronic condition till he gets a transplant. He has to learn to fit dialysis into his daily schedule and get on with rest of his life,” says Kamal D Shah. “With our centre we wanted to create an ambience where the patient doesn’t feel like he is in a hospital,” he says. He adds that the entire process of dialysis takes about four hours and a hospital ambience can be depressive. “The wait is boring and frustrating. So we have television and internet services. Our staff is trained and they constantly interact with the patients,” he explains. Another problem that is observed among dialysis patients is infection leading to Hepatitis C. However, Kamal feels that not enough care is being taken to prevent it.
“We have introduced a Zero Infection Kit that completely eliminates the possibility of an infection,” he says.
Apart from managing his centre, Kamal has started the Hyderabad Kidney Foundation which is a support group for dialysis patients.
From inviting experts to give talks and going out for dinner and movies, this support group talks and share its experiences. “When you go to a restaurant the first thing they serve is water. But for dialysis patients we need to drink a restricted amount for water. There are some conditions which are peculiar to dialysis patients— this support group helps members in facing them,” he says.
The risks of kidney diseases are more among diabetics but he advises that a controlled diet and lifestyle go a long way in keeping dialysis at bay.
From being a software professional to dedicating his full time to managing the centre and foundation, Kamal D. Shah feels that he has found his true calling.
Keywords: dialysis, kidney diseases, Kamal D Shah, diabetics, Zero Infection Kit
Badri, please read Kamal's blog or get similar info available elsewhere on the Net. It
is sad to come across people who are cynical about everything. Kamal did not get
kidney disease because he had diabetes or hypertension or any other condition that
he neglected. Kamal is an inspiration to many of us, having overcome
a condition to lead a "normal" life. Read his blog.
I myself a Kidney transplant patient in 2007 salute Shri Kamal
I only wish the media propagates the need for proper kidney care
specially due to chronic ailments like diabetes and hypertension rather
than extolling the business enterprises which profit from kidney
failures under the guise of giving a great experience while waiting to
be treated!!
I salute your Spirit, Mr.Kamal Shah. I am an ardent follower of your blog and a silent admirer. When it is so easy to get bitter and make life hell for oneself and others around, you chose to go the extra mile and make a difference by rendering invaluable service through this organization. I am sure you have and will continue to inspire many lives.
Truly inspired with this article. Very proud of kamal and i wish all the
success to nephroplus team for the coming dialysis centers they are
going to establish !
It's really nice to see one of my friend in leading news and it cherishes our frienship. Kamal is an enthusiast of what he is doing now as a co-founder of Nephroplus. Kudos to you Kamal. All the best to your dreams and aspirations.
First of all I wish to thank the young man for his sympathetic attitude towards teh poeple suffer from renal failures.A rare glimpse of non-profit oriented initiative in our selfish world.All the best for further endeavours in your life Kamal D shah.
Great entrepenuership with human face is really appreciable.Sincere request is to alongwith take an step of how to protect and preserve healthy kidney to those who accompany to the patients. Few months back really I didn’t know this disease ugly face recently one of my close relative has undergone dialysis as explained in this news thrice in week and luckily got donar and going for transplantation soon to overcome this pain. If they want to expand their centers should consider non metro cities as peoples without sophesticataed care need to travel several hundred kilometers to get proper teatements increased their financial burden along with agony and panic of their health.
Kamal, Great work. Being associated with you, I know that you are always friendly and helpful. But now, seeeing your dedication towards helping the Needu, i just dont have any words to appreciate your great Helpful Nature.
Please read...
Doing a great job sir...a good initiative for people suffering for kidney disorders.
No words are sufficient to appreciate the social work done by Shri Kamal D Shah. Many things go wrong in our life and we find suddenly that more and more individuals have to undergo dialysis and they live in borrowed time. But they can take courage from the way Shri Shah faced his ailment and the way in which he decided to meet challenges in the form of life with dialysis head on.
Incidentally, it is now clear that serious research is needed to find out why so many amongst youth (and even school going children) find that their kidneys have failed at very early stage of their lives. It cannot be life styles alone or pollution. Hopefully, we will know the main causes of kidney failures and take preventive steps.
From the above article, I am given to understand that the centres started by Kamal D Shah gives considerable relief to dialysis
patients. I wish he starts one such centre in the city of Chennai.
In Chennai also, there are number of patients who require constant
dialysis, who are all made to wait for a long time. I wish the Centre, a grand success in major cities in the years to come.
Great work, Mr. Shah. It's amazing how you turned a medical condition that depresses most people afflicted by it into very productive activity. I am sure that positive energy will keep you healthy for a very long time! Congratulations on the successful business!
ps: Few days ago came across your blog on how you had an infection after the tsunami in Chennai and was surprised to see this article in the Hindu today :-)
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