In a significant push to strengthen kidney disease prevention, the National Kidney Foundation Singapore (NKF) unveiled today Singapore’s first experiential Kidney Discovery Centre (KDC), which was supported by a $1 million donation from Keppel Ltd. (Keppel), through its philanthropic arm, Keppel Care Foundation. The event was attended by Guest-of-Honour Coordinating Minister for Social Policies and Minister for Health, Mr Ong Ye Kung, together with Mr Danny Teoh, Chairman of Keppel, Mr Ho Tong Yen, CEO of Keppel Care Foundation, Mr Ang Hao Yao, Chairman of NKF, and Ms Yen Tan, CEO of NKF.

Located at NKF’s flagship building at Kim Keat Road, the newly revamped 300-square-metre centre is an interactive kidney education hub designed to bring kidney health to life. Through immersive zones, hands-on exhibits and gamified learning experiences, visitors gain a deeper understanding of how the kidneys function, how kidney disease develops, and how early lifestyle changes can significantly influence long-term health outcomes.

Chronic kidney disease remains a major health concern in Singapore, with more than 500,000 adults aged 18 to 74 are estimated to have the disease, many without obvious symptoms. Chronic kidney disease often progresses silently, with patients diagnosed only at advanced stages, when opportunities for timely intervention and treatment may already be limited.

Since its inception in 2011, the KDC has engaged more than 65,000 visitors. The revamped KDC incorporates state-of-the-art technology to deepen awareness and encourage earlier action to prevent kidney failure, and aims to engage some 10,000 visitors each year, including students, teachers, families, community and corporate groups.

Mr Danny Teoh, Chairman of Keppel said, “As a longstanding partner of NKF, Keppel is pleased to support the revamp of the Kidney Discovery Centre and NKF’s initiatives to raise awareness of kidney health and encourage healthier lifestyle choices. The revamped Kidney Discovery Centre will help visitors better understand the importance of preventive efforts against kidney disease through interactive and engaging platforms, and contribute to strengthening upstream measures for proactive kidney disease prevention.”

Mr Ang Hao Yao, Chairman of NKF said, “We are deeply grateful to Keppel for their generous support, which has helped bring to life our shared vision for the future of kidney care. The Kidney Discovery Centre marks an important step in how we connect with the public, translating knowledge into action and encouraging people to take charge of their health. It is through strong partnerships like this that we can shift the focus upstream towards prevention and early detection, to reduce the national burden of kidney failure.”

Keppel has been actively collaborating with NKF through donations and staff volunteerism. Since 2017, Keppel staff have been actively involved in NKF’s volunteer programmes, including befriending patients. Beyond this donation, Keppel Care Foundation also donated $2 million to NKF in 2020 to establish its first dialysis centre co-located within Yishun Community Hospital and adjacent to Khoo Teck Puat Hospital. It is also the first of NKF’s centres to offer fully integrated and seamless dialysis care for both haemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis. Keppel also recently supported NKF in the development of roving kidney health exhibits which will be brought to different locations in Singapore, including schools, community hubs and commercial facilities, to raise awareness of kidney health and promote healthy lifestyle choices.

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About Keppel

Keppel Ltd. (SGX:BN4) is a global asset manager and operator with strong expertise in sustainability-related solutions spanning the areas of infrastructure, real estate and connectivity. Headquartered in Singapore, Keppel operates in more than 20 countries worldwide, providing critical infrastructure and services for renewables, clean energy, decarbonisation, sustainable urban renewal and digital connectivity. Keppel creates value for investors and stakeholders through its quality investment platforms and diverse asset portfolios, including private funds and listed real estate and business trusts.