KUALA TERENGGANU: At least 100 nurses are urgently needed in Terengganu to treat chronic kidney disease patients requiring haemodialysis.

Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Razif Abdul Rahman said the state government offered ready employment to trained graduates to apply and was even considering part-time recruitment.

“We welcome graduate nurses from local or overseas institutions.

If need be, we will even consider establishing a volunteer unit to absorb nurses the same way we have done with medical officers.

“The Armed Forces has offered assistance in seconding their staff for this purpose,” Razif said after launching the 1Malaysia Haemodialysis Centre in Kampung Maras, Batu Rakit in conjunction with World Kidney Day.

The centre has a total of 11 haemodialysis machines costing RM800,000 since last January.

“There are 125 new patients awaiting haemodialysis treatment owing to the shortage of nurses and more haemodialysis centres.

“We already have 1,366 kidney patients at 22 haemodialysis centres, nine of which are government-run,” said Razif.

He added there were plans to add four more haemodialysis centres in Alor Limbat, Hulu Terengganu, Seberang Takir and Kemaman within two years.-nst