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Mr Kamal Shah

Mr. Kamal Shah

I am a 40 year guy staying in Hyderabad. I work full time, swim every morning, travel regularly and by the way, I am on dialysis!

I have been on dialysis for nineteen years now and I truly believe that dialysis is a small part of my life. It need not dictate what I do, every minute of my life. I don’t think about dialysis and my kidney disease most of the day.

There are many misconceptions about dialysis in India. People feel that someone on dialysis cannot live for more than a few months or at best, a few years. Nothing can be farther from the truth. I myself have been on dialysis for nineteen years and I know people who have been on dialysis for much longer, even in India.

These days, with quality dialysis and good, proactive care about their health, people can live normal lives on dialysis for decades.

Though kidney disease is a disease of the body, I believe that it affects the mind tremendously. That is why, it is important for us not to let this disease control our mind. We should always try to be cheerful and not think too much about dialysis. For this, working (part time or full time), traveling, exercising etc. can be tremendously helpful.

I have done hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, have undergone a transplant which did not work. I have had a lot of ups and downs in my life. I almost lost my life in the December 2004 tsunami that hit India. I was at a beach in Mahabalipuram and had a miraculous escape. After going through so much, I feel that my kidney disease has taught me so much. It has taught me to take life’s challenges head on and to never get defeated by anything.

I co-founded NephroPlus, currently India’s largest dialysis centre network in 2009. Our aim is to give our patients (whom we call ‘guests’) the best quality dialysis in a cheerful environment. I want every single person on dialysis in India to lead a normal life. I want them all to work, travel and have fun.

Despite being on dialysis, it is possible to do all this and more. All we need to do is to think that we can. YES, WE CAN!

19 years on dialysis in India. Since last 9 years on daily nocturnal home hemodialysis.

– Bachelor of Technology (Chemical Engineering) May, 1997.
– Developed software for the Macintosh and iPhone.
– Maintain a very widely read blog (http://www.kamaldshah.com) about his experiences with dialysis among other things.
– Co-founded a chain of dialysis centers called NephroPlus (http://www.nephroplus.com) which has 36 centers currently in different parts of the country.
– Maintain a widely read website – Dialysis in India (http://dialysis.org.in) that has information specific to dialysis patients in India.

admin Past Projects, Projects

Breathe A Life

Breathe A Life

Mumbai Kidney Foundation’s mission statement is “Sharing The Burden”. To this end, we are initiating three projects to provide aid to those affected by COVID-19.

Breath A Life

With an increase in COVID cases, we noticed that many people require oxygen either before they get access to a hospital or post-hospitalization when they are at home under COVID care. Providing oxygen concentrators for such people can help ensure that they can get the necessary treatment at home. We want to be able to provide oxygen concentrator services for such people so that they can decrease their hospital stay and care for themselves at home. If you know someone who requires an oxygen concentrator, please connect them with us. You can SMS/Whatsapp us on 9892008228/9820767272/ 7666674011/9930746030.

Requirement: A doctor’s prescription for home oxygen.

Donate Now: Click Here

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Care To Teach

Care To Teach

Mumbai Kidney Foundation’s mission statement is “Sharing The Burden”. To this end, we are initiating three projects to provide aid to those affected by COVID-19.

Care To Teach

Amidst the heart-shattering statistics and the tear-jerking news reports, it is the younger, innocent ones who had the stars in their eyes dimmed. Because of the massive impact of COVID-19 this year, the breadwinners and caregivers of many families were lost. What followed was a loss of childhood when the children had to step up to take care of their families. They had to give up on education to fulfill various duties in and around the house because of a lack of funds.

Our aim is to provide funding to these children to help them get educated and have a better future. Mumbai Kidney Foundation invites you to join this cause and do your bit towards society.

We plan to reach out to children who have lost access to education due to the loss of a parent who was the primary breadwinner for the family and we are raising money for their education. Each child (could be studying in any grade from 1 to 12) will be funded for at least two years by us. Not only their school fees, but also their uniforms, books, stationary, other miscellaneous fees, and anything else they need for having a well-rounded education will be taken care of. If a student needs any electronic devices like tablets/laptops/smartphones because of the online mode, the same will also be arranged. We will also make sure that these funds reach the right people and are used for the right purposes. You can help by donating funds which boosts our strength to help. You can also popularize our message and help us reach more people who are willing to donate. Even the smallest contribution can make a big difference.

If you know about any such children requiring help, please contact us with the following details :
1) An application form with details of all the family members including their name, age, address, contact number, name of the school, standard in which the child is studying, and the school fees.
2) A copy of the child’s Aadhaar card and ration card
3) A copy of the death certificate of the parent lost to Covid
4) Copy of electricity bill of the child’s residence
You can send the above information on WhatsApp at: 9821112487 / 9930746030 or mail us at mumbaikidneyfoundation@gmail.com

Donate Now: Click Here

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MKF Launches “Know Your Numbers Campaign” at Walkathon

On the eve of World Kidney Day, Mumbai Kidney Foundation along with like-minded  NGO’s & Kidney Foundations of Mumbai spearheaded a Walkathon at the Marine Drive which was flagged off by Padmabhusan Santoor Vadak Pt. Shiv Kumar Sharma ji.

3000 people turned up to support this social cause and got free check-up of Blood Pressure, Blood Sugar and Weight. Simultaneously we also launched “Know Your Numbers Campaign” which means every Indian beyond 30 yrs of age should measure his weight, Blood Pressure and Blood Sugar and should know their health numbers.

India is facing an epidemic of Lifestyle Diseases such as Diabetes, Obesity, Blood Pressure which is killing 2/3 of Indians at an early age. It is also responsible for  epidemic of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) in our country. 1 in 10 Indians suffer from CKD and die prematurely. The disease is silent and expensive to treat. The only way we can manage is by creating awareness & prevention.

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Ek Chammach Kam Campaign

World Kidney Day will be celebrated on March 8 with an aim to raise awareness about kidney and its importance. Programs and events are organized around the world as part of the awareness campaigns. People are educated about the kidney disease, risk factors and preventive behaviors. The aim is to reduce the kidney disease frequency and health issues related to it.

Every year, World Kidney Day has a theme and this year it is Kidney and Women’s Health. Chronic kidney disease or CKD is one of the common health issues, with around 195 million women affected by it across the world. CKD can lead to kidney failure and death. In India, 17.2 percent people from urban areas suffer from kidney disease. This year, on World Kidney Day Dr. Bhupendra Gandhi’s Amar Gandhi Foundation (AGF) is initiating a campaign called Ek Chammach Kam (One spoon less) to limit the intake of salt. Over 150 senior-most nephrologists from Mumbai are coming together to raise awareness about the negative effect of salt intake in kidney disease. They want to highlight the high salt consumption among Indians.

Dr. Bhupendra Gandhi says, “Chronic kidney disease is a ‘SILENT KILLER’; it usually has no significant symptoms until it has reached later stages where a patient is not left with many choices of treatment.”The aim of the campaign is to make people aware of the kidney disease and encourage them to make positive lifestyle changes.

The ‘ek chammach kam’ campaign will be run on the social media platforms of Amar Gandhi Foundation and Mumbai Kidney Foundation (MKF). According to Dr. Umesh Khanna, Senior Nephrologist & Chairman of Mumbai Kidney Foundation, “Women in particular love eating ‘chatpata’ food, a craving that leads to excess salt consumption. They must observe and monitor the same, as well as ensure low salt consumption in their families.”

Senior Nephrologist, Dr Bhavesh Vora says, “People who are diabetic, hypertensive, obese or have a heart condition have a higher risk of kidney disease. In the light of all the eye-opening facts stated hereby, spreading awareness about a regular checkup of kidney health for early detection of chronic kidney disease is a must!” A free urine test and blood test have been organized by MKF and AGF on March 8 for early detection of the kidney disease. You can get tested at any branch of Suburban Diagnostics laboratory on the day.

Here are some data provided by the nephrologists: As per the World Health Organization, the prevalence of chronic kidney disease is estimated to be 8 to 16 percent in adults above the age of 30 globally. In India, 17.2 percent of people in urban areas are affected by the disease, according to a study published in the BMC Nephrology journal. One of the major risk factors is diabetes and over 69 million Indians suffer from Type 2 diabetes mellitus.

The numbers are expected to be 140 million by 2040. Another risk factor is obesity and it affects over 135 million Indians. In India, 60 percent of chronic kidney disease patients either suffers from high blood pressure or are diabetic.

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Mumbai Kidney Foundation – Annual Day 2018

The Mumbai Kidney Foundation Annual Day was held on Sunday, March 2018 at the Aspee Auditorium, Malad from 9 am to 2 pm followed by Lunch. 

The MKF Annual day, done every year for the last 8 years is a celebration of the inner strength and resilience of our patients.

It was a cultural extravaganza with performances by dialysis and transplant patients. It was heartening to see the enthusiasm and joie de vivre of these patients. Our patients practiced for 3 months prior to the annual day balancing their dialysis schedules, jobs and family responsibilities. The patients are not professional dancers or singers but the programme was a mix of songs, dance, skits, fashion show, mimicry with full on masti, josh, fun and dhamaal!! It was well appreciated and served as a source of inspiration to the 500 plus patients and relatives in the audience. All our patients attended in large numbers with their near and dear ones and we had a packed auditorium! 

We salute the spirit and determination of our dialysis and transplant patients to live happily against all odds. Their courage in the face of illness is a lesson for everyone on how to overcome any burden in life and stay happy.

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SALT SATYAGRAHA — November-2017.

While the country was celebrating the birthday of the father of the nation on October 2 2017, a group of doctors decided it was time to call for a ‘Salt Satyagraha’ again. The objective of this Satyagraha campaign, for which the medical experts have roped in NGOs and dieticians, is to get the government to raise taxes on the seasoning and adopt other measures so that the average Indian reduces his/her intake of it.

Dr Umesh Khanna, Consultant Nephrologist, Lancelot Kidney and GI centre and Chairman of the Mumbai Kidney Foundation explained that consuming salt and sugar above the daily stipulated limits leads to diabetes and blood pressure problems, which together claim as many lives annually as tobacco does. “But while cigarette packets must have mandatory pictorial warnings, the snacks one consumes on a day to day basis, carry no such announcements. Most of them aren’t even labeled with details about the salt content.”

Dr Hemal Shah who heads the department of nephrology at Saifee Hospital and is the secretary of the Mumbai Nephrology Group, added, “While an individual must not consume more than 5 g of salt a day, a small pack of potato chips alone contains about 7.5 g of salt, which is 1 ½ day’s quota, but there’s no label pointing this out nor any regulations that require food manufacturers to specify the salt content on packaging. Hence we are adopting a multi-pronged approach, to spread awareness and change regulations concerning food labeling. Dr J S Pai, Director for Nutrition, Government of India, was present at our first Mumbai event, held at IIT Mumbai on November 12. And, we will shortly be approaching the health minister for support too.”

Highlighting the dangers of over consumption, Dr Arun Shah, a senior nephrologist and renal specialist who practices at Lilavati Hospital cited an article that appeared in the New England Journal of Medicine, which, “stated that reducing dietary salt by 3 g per day is projected to reduce the annual number of new cases of coronary heart disease by 60,000 to 120,000, stroke by 32,000 to 66,000, and heart attacks by 54,000 to 99,000.”

Dr Khanna pointed out that the movement has already started to gather momentum with a number of doctors in New Delhi expressing their desire to be associated with it as well. “The Sapiens Foundation in Chennai has already been doing some work in this area. They had invited Dr Graham MacGregor, a professor of cardiovascular medicine who was instrumental in reducing the salt intake of UK residents to talk about the subject.”

The November 12 event saw several groups rally together to lend their support to the cause. Among them were Breach Candy Hospital Nephrologist Dr Bhupendra Gandhi’s NGO, the Amar Gandhi Foundation, which creates awareness about organ donation, Mumbai Nephrology Group, COREP Trust, the Mumbai Kidney Foundation,  the Sapiens health Foundation (Chennai) Narmada Kidney Foundation, Indian Dietetics Association and all the Nephrologists of Mumbai (MNG). Currently, over 100 Mumbai-based nephrologists and dietitians and over 70 Chennai-based nephrologists and cardiologists are associated with the campaign.

Dr Khanna told us their approach involves spreading awareness by collaborating with NGOs and advocacy groups, and requesting the FMCG industry to manufacture low salt options of commonly eaten snacks. “We are also working towards getting the hospitality industry to mention the salt content of dishes on menus, offer low salt options of dishes, to take away the salt shakers from tables at restaurants (allow guests to ask for them, if they feel they must) and to place standees on tables with messages that encourage people to eat less salt.”

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Walk for Kidney’s, Save your Kidneys. – Mar’16.

On the occasion of World Kidney Day 2016, MKF organized a ‘Walk for your Kidneys’ in IC Colony, Borivali on 12th March 2016 to spread awareness among people about kidney disease.400 people participated enthusiatcially along with some kidney patients. After the walk healthy breakfast was given and an interactive session took place between doctors and the walkers.
A talk on diet and prevention of diabetes high blood pressure and kidney disease was given followed by a panel discussion by eminent doctors. A series of free blood and urine tests was conducted of all guests to detect blood pressure, diabetes and kidney disease.
The walk served as a reminder to all that kidneys are vital organs and that they should be taken care of. It was a way to make people more conscious about their lifestyle choices and in particular about the risks, dangers and burden of kidney disease and how to prevent it.

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The Salt Satyagrah – Seminar on Salt Awareness IN 2018

Community Service Medical I avenue initiative of SALT SATYAGRAH Seminar, organized on Sun 28th Oct 2018 at Veer Savarkar Udyan, Borivali by RC Borivli and co-hosted by RC Mira-road, RC Mumbai Borivali East, RC Mumbai Dahisar was an eye opener. The famous Nephrologist Dr. Umesh Khanna shared some startling statistics about usage of SOS (Salt, Oil, and Sugar) and how we can prevent diseases related to the excess use of these three.

Following are the excerpts of the seminar and very interactive 40 minutes Q & A session.
• 10 million people die of BP related causes
• Commonest cause of preventable deaths and disability in the world
• Hyper Tension is a silent killer causing heart disease, kidney failure and strokes
• 35% of the world population above 25 suffer from hypertension
• Hypertension kills more people than tobacco by developing a disease called atherosclerosis
• You can change this by reducing salt, oil and sugar by at least 30 percent
• One of the important strategies to control HT and its complication is changing lifestyle
• Average intake of salt in India is 10 to 15 grams or 2 to 3 tsf per person per day. The WHO recommends only 5 gram or 1 tsf of salt per day
• How do you get salt in food: Natural food, added salt in food and salt used as a preservative for processed food.
• The rapid growth of processed food usage by the youth is frightening and multiple national companies have entered India in a big way
• We need not blame always western diet, our Sukha Nashta is as bad
• There is an urgent need to reduce salt intake in India by At least 5 gms through Government and Rotary Initiatives
• UK and 17 other countries have successfully done it
• Remember unhealthy food is the biggest cause of death in the world especially premature death and disability
• Salt, sugar and oil especially trans-fat should be curtailed and all of you should pledge to take Ek Chammach Kum of SOS (Salt, Oil and Sugar) in your diet.
• Join the REDUCE SOS by 30 % campaign
• Stay 30 feet away from a smoker
• Exercise for 30 minutes daily
• Above 30 yrs of age do regular BP, Sugar and weight charting and keep it under control
• 30 percent increase in fruit and vegetables consumption
• What increases BP?
• Salt, overweight and lack of exercise, smoking and lack of K~+ I.e fruits and vegetables
• Why do we eat salt? It is cultural, use as preservative for harsh winter
• Any proof of salt and BP: 1. Chimpanzees 2. Portugal village comparison 3. Japanese study govt effort of reducing salt in population
• Finland program, big fall in BP and hence strokes, salt reduction will reduce osteoporosis and stomach cancer and stoned
• Hence WHO has advised only one spoon of salt or 5 gm consumption
• Major sources of salt intake, either added in food or processed food or eating out
• Start from school campaign, media, TV, social media – public education.
• Next step is industry to do their bit, getting low salt tasty snacks. They can start labelling foods, coding like traffic signals, govt to put salt tax, or tax exemption on good food. UK has successfully done this project of industry doing incremental reductions in salted snacks salt content. Taste buds get adjusted in 2 weeks.
• WHO now recognised and recommends, salt reduction as the most cost effective method of saving lives, value for money
• I cannot do it alone, but collectively all of us especially the NGOs can spread awareness and pressure the govt for reigning the food industry and hotel industry
• Rotary along with Mumbai Kidney Foundation and AGF along with Sapiens has initiated this Ek Chammach Kum abhiyaan and has promised to take it to all corners of the district 3141. They have the necessary tools to do it.
• Let this save millions of lives in India and reduce the burden of Strokes, heart attacks, heart failure, kidney failure and by reducing in addition sugar and oil you can prevent DM, obesity and heart disease and paralysis thus multiplying the benefits
• Be the change you wish to see in this world.
• Join the Salt Satyagraha and start Ek chammach Kum Abhiyaan
Thank you District Medical I avenue Co Chair Dr. Dharmaji Shinde, Lead Host Club (RC Borivli) President Narendra Shah, for their efforts in organizing this wonderful session.
Request all the Rotarians to promote the above pearls of wisdom on personal health by posting this document on social media via WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram and twitter.
Best Regards,
Chetan Desai
Group Chief Avenue Head
Miracle Community Service

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