Belize Kidney Association Releases Latest Stats

According to data from the Belize Kidney Association, they have recorded to date that one hundred and twenty-two persons have passed away due to kidney failure. There are currently one hundred and five persons in need of dialysis treatment. A number of these persons are receiving treatment, but the remaining patients are in dire need of dialysis and that is where the Kidney Association of Belize comes in. Last year, in an effort to raise some seventy-five thousand dollars to assist those patients in need of dialysis, the association organized a raffle that was to be drawn in late October 2015. It was postponed until today when the drawing took place. There were a total of ten winners and the grand prize, valued at nine thousand dollars, was given by Belize Healthcare Partners for cosmetic surgery. Today, News Five spoke with President Ruby Nicholas of the Belize Kidney Association.

Ruby Nicholas

Ruby Nicholas, President, Kidney Association of Belize

“Our raffle was in the making for quite some time and we are so thankful that we were able to do the raffle today. Our main object was to try to raise funds for the much needed funds for dialysis patients. So the funds that we’ve raised today we will be using to assist more dialysis patients.”

Duane Moody

“Tell us about the target that you guys were trying to meet and if you guys did meet it.”

Ruby Nicholas

“Our target was seventy-five thousand dollars. Unfortunately and fortunately, because regardless of what the amount we have received, it is an added plus for us. We only received eighteen thousand dollars and we are so grateful fro that amount.”

Monique Eiley

Monique Eiley, PR, Belize Healthcare Partners

“We have a dialysis unit here and we see patients come here and majority of them cannot afford it. So the partnership is very vital in terms of allowing these patients to live because without dialysis, they die.”

Duane Moody

“We understand that you guys were instrumental in the raffle because you gave the first price; a process or surgery that is valued at nine thousand dollars. Tell us about it.”

Monique Eiley

“The first prize that we gave was a liposuction. We were thinking, we met as a committee on what can we give of value that people would be able to use. And we know that it is a cosmetic process and getting all in shape with that, but that was something that we wanted to allow people to know that yes in Belize City we do cosmetic surgery.”

Shawn Smith

Shawn Smith, President, BELAIFA

“We have partnered with them for a couple years now. We did the Reed Night Gala and now we assisted with the raffle and these are things that we want to encourage people to do because at the end of the day, listening to the words that Miss Ruby said, these are things that are very important and being a part of it is just a blessing.”

The Belize Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors, BELAIFA, has an annual Red Gala event in October. The proceeds from that event is handed over to the Kidney Association.