With an annual cost of J $65.8 million to treat persons with kidney failure at the Mandeville Regional Hospital (MRH) in Manchester; Regional Director for the Southern Regional Health Authority (SRHA), Michael Bent has renewed calls for Jamaicans to take greater personal responsibility for their health.
Life-Saving Gift- $1 Million Support for Dialysis Patients: Regional Director from the SRHA, Michael Bent (3rd right), Acting CEO for the MRH, Marcia Francis (2nd right) and Ward Manager for the haemodialysis unit at the MRH, Marika Davis-Miller (3rd left) accept a cheque valued at J$1 million from General Manger of Jamaica Standard Products Company Ltd, John O. Minott through its annual High Mountain Coffee Road Race. Participating in the moment are: dialysis patients Marva Swaby (left) and Que Morgan. The Regional Director was speaking at a function on Thursday, April 4 where J $1 million was handed over to the MRH renal unit by the Jamaica Standard Products Company Ltd. (JSP) through its annual event, the High Mountain Coffee Road Race.
Mr. Bent welcomed the donation, which he noted will greatly impact the lives of the 58 patients and their families who access services from the unit’s 12 dialysis stations. He commended the JSP for their selfless service over the years, noting that for the past five years, the company has donated more than J$ 4 million to the MRH renal unit.
Pointing out that some 103 persons are on the waiting list to access haemodialysis services, the Regional Director said the demand for these services outweigh the hospital’s resources and capacity; however, the hospital will make additional adjustments to accommodate an added 11 patients in need of the critical service.
“We are going to stretch the resources and our staff a little more to assist the additional patients; however, we will effectively manage the staff and machines to ensure sustainability of service” Mr. Bent said.
Mr. Bent noted that the challenges associated with non-communicable or lifestyle diseases must be tackled from several angles, including
Jamaicans taking personal responsibility for their health. He pointed to
several initiatives by the Ministry of Health including the Jamaica Moves programme, which encourages Jamaicans to live healthier lives through physical activity, proper nutrition and screening.
He also called on corporate Jamaica and individual Jamaicans to partner with the public health sector, noting that: “If each Jamaican can donate even $100 monthly, it would be able to go a far way in ensuring the sustainability of the service.”
Meanwhile, patient at the MRH renal unit, Que Morgan commended the staff members for delivering “first class care”.
“No ordinary Jamaican can afford the cost of renal failure. I am calling on all Jamaicans to come together and contribute so we can give to this cause and also build a modern renal unit at the Mandeville Regional Hospital. I commend the staff members at the JSP who show love and commitment in staging the road race annually and in continuing to make donations to the unit” Mr. Morgan said.
