Kota Kinabalu: Wira Transplant Malaysia co-founder Siwa Kumar Raghavan has called for more inclusive access to organ transplant services in Sabah, urging the establishment of a transplant centre in Kota Kinabalu to reduce the challenges faced by patients in the State.
Siwa, a kidney dialysis patient of nearly 20 years, highlighted how access to care in Malaysia remains uneven, especially for those outside major urban centres.
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“If a patient from Tawau, Sandakan or Beaufort needs to undergo a transplant, they have to travel to Kuala Lumpur.
“Even if there is an organ harvested in Kota Kinabalu, both the organ and the recipient must still be sent to KL for the transplant procedure,” he said during a sharing session at the Rotary Club of Kota Kinabalu meeting.
He noted that transplant procedures require Sabah patients to travel long distances to access surgery, placing an additional burden on individuals who are already physically and emotionally strained.
As such, Siwa stressed that decentralising transplant services through a dedicated centre in Kota Kinabalu would ease logistical challenges while improving access and outcomes for patients in Sabah.
He also pointed to growing concerns over kidney disease nationwide, noting that there are currently about 55,000 kidney dialysis patients in the country.
“Every year, there are 7,000 new patients coming on board,” he added, anticipating that the number of dialysis patients nationwide could reach 100,000 within the next two years.
Despite the growing need, transplant rates remain low. Siwa said only around 100 to 200 transplants are performed annually, with most involving living-related donors rather than deceased donors.
“Another reason for the low numbers is public awareness. There are many challenges surrounding cadaveric donation, largely because people are not aware of it. So when hospitals approach families, they may decline,” he explained, urging local organisations and communities to come together for the cause, noting that support systems are already in place.
He highlighted a monthly organised walk in Kota Kinabalu, where individuals living with kidney disease gather for support and activity. These sessions bring together patients at different stages, as well as medical professionals and supporters, creating a space for shared learning and encouragement.
Siwa and his Wira Transplant Malaysia team will be taking on Mount Kinabalu on Thursday, together with 15 patients – six of whom are kidney dialysis patients, one an organ donor, and eight kidney transplant recipients. Doctors and supporters will also join the climb.
Siwa, who has scaled Mount Kinabalu three times – twice as a dialysis patient – expressed a deep emotional connection to the mountain.
“This mountain symbolises more than just a physical challenge to me – it represents my life philosophy. I believe that challenges are inevitable in life, whether I choose them or not.
“However, by voluntarily taking on challenges, I prepare myself mentally and physically, which helps me become more resilient when unexpected difficulties arise,” he said.
For Siwa, activities like mountain climbing serve as preparation, strengthening not only the body but also the mind and emotional resilience.
He emphasised that climbing is not a one-time achievement but an ongoing process of self-improvement, with each ascent offering a renewed opportunity to push personal limits and build discipline.
“This journey has become a source of motivation for many, especially for the patients joining us on this climb,” he said, adding that his efforts have encouraged others to take on challenges they once thought impossible. All participants, he noted, have undergone training and are well prepared.
Personally, Siwa refuses to let being a dialysis patient define or limit his life. As a business consultant and kindergarten entrepreneurs coach, many people are unaware of his condition unless he chooses to share it.
“I don’t believe that illness should prevent someone from living a meaningful or adventurous life. Ultimately, the only true limitation is one’s own will and actions.
“With determination and creativity, it is always possible to find ways to keep moving forward,” he said.
