
ABOUT
The National Institute of Kidney and Urological Diseases (NIKUD)
Our mission and history
NIKUD is at the frontline of improving health in Pakistan. Our mission is to create avenues of prevention of Chronic Diseases and improve overall health through cost-effective, high-quality care. NIKUD started through a partnership between The Kidney Foundation of Pakistan and The Karachi University in 1997. Our services include hospital care, outpatient clinics, health screenings in rural communities, professional training, and research.


Who we serve
Seven million people in Pakistan have diabetes, making it the country in South Asia with the highest prevalence of the condition. It is a major health issue in urban and rural areas. We focus on delivering personalized, patient-centered care that is accessible to all.
Through community outreach and partnerships we educate and empower individuals to take charge of their own health and well-being. We foster a culture of prevention and wellness with the goal of improving the overall health of our society and promote a better quality of life for all.
Our vision
We take proactive measures to prevent disease and conduct clinical research to stay at the forefront of new discoveries and innovative treatments. Our vision is of a healthier, more vibrant Pakistan where people have access to care that meets the highest standards.

Our approach
01
Identify risk factors contributing to the development of chronic diseases and devise strategies for prevention and management of the aforementioned.
03
Participate in the national data collection on kidney diseases to establish a Renal Data Registry.
05
Conduct screening camps for Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), Hypertension (HTN), Diabetes Mellitus (DM), and create community awareness in both rural and urban areas.
02
Establish a health care facility for management of acute and chronic diseases and engage in clinical research.
04
Train medical and para-medical staff both locally and abroad.
06
Collaboration with the International Society of Nephrology (ISN) and International Federation of Kidney Foundations (IFKF).

Helping where the need is greatest
Pakistan’s economic landscape severely hampers healthcare delivery. Most Pakistanis are living on less than $5 per day. The rate of kidney disease among Pakistanis is higher than in any other South Asian country. These two facts mean your gift will go further and impact more lives for the better.
47%
Pakistani patients report a lack of medication availability
1.2%
Pakistan’s GDP spent on healthcare
3rd
Kidney diseases are the 3rd most common cause of death in Pakistan
7M
Pakistanis have diabetes
Our leadership

Akbar Naqvi
Board Member, President
Akbar received a BS in Material Science and Engineering from Northwestern University in Illinois and a subsequent MBA at Georgetown University McDonough School of Business. He has worked at Corporate Executive Board (now Gartner) and has extensive experience in Middle Markets, Qualitative Analytics, and Data Science. He currently works at CEATI in their product strategy department. Akbar grew up in Pakistan and spent his formative years in Karachi. He believes that the uplift of any community begins with investment in its people and has been engaged in other outreach in Pakistan. He hopes his involvement with NIKUD can enable him to give back to his home country.
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Matthew Giddings
Board Member, Treasurer
Matthew is President of a family office and has over 25 years of family office and public accounting experience. Matthew earned a BBA in Accounting from the University of Iowa, Master of Taxation from Arizona State University, and an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.

Terra Carey
Board Member
Terra earned a degree in Biology from the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee and a Masters in Public Health from the University of Minnesota. She holds numerous certificates in healthcare quality, patient safety, and informatics, along with being a Master Black Belt in Lean Six Sigma. Terra has guided a large government-run health system through three iterations of the Malcolm Baldrige (PEN) applications and has extensive non-profit and grant management experience. She is the Chief Quality Officer for a large mental healthcare system and the mother of three daughters. She is drawn to this organization because of the fundamental belief of healthcare as a human right and the possibility of international collaboration to improve health outcomes for all people.
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Zayna Ahmed
Student Volunteer
Zayna Ahmed is a dedicated junior at Blue Valley Southwest High School with a passion for healthcare advocacy and community service. Inspired by the challenges faced by kidney dialysis patients in Pakistan, Zayna plays an active role in bringing the youth together, educating peers, and advocating for better healthcare resources. Through her leadership, she strives to inspire other young people to take action and make a meaningful difference.