WORTH bringing cheaper dialysis treatment to Belize
Only twenty-one persons are currently receiving dialysis treatment subsidized by the government. It’s a small group in the number of patients that are suffering from renal pathologies. But this may soon change as earlier today a memorandum of understanding was signed by the government, the World organization of Renal Therapies and two hospitals to introduce hemodialysis in the public health system. Worth recently completed a three year project in Cameroon Africa, that is now successfully being run by that country’s government. News Five’s Delahnie Bain was on hand for the signing that made Belize the second country to receive the assistance.
Delahnie Bain, Reporting
Every week for the past six months or so, a group of medical representatives, dubbed the Dialysis Task Force, has been working on a project with the help of the World organization of Renal Therapies. Their aim is to bring hemodialysis into the public health system and today, the planning process culminated with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between WORTH, the Ministry of Health, La Loma Luz Adventist Hospital and the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital.
Pablo Marin, Minister of Health
“Through this collaborative venture, through this milestone achievement which we celebrate today, we hope to create a partnership with WORTH, with LA Loma Luz, with our own K.H.M.H., which will extend treatment for kidney disease to all those Belizeans in need.”
Dr. Wayne Trebbin, Founder/President, WORTH
“It’s a momentous occasion for us. It means that we have a total commitment now to bring dialysis to Belize in conjunction with our colleagues, brothers and sisters here and our commitment is to bring state of the art, cutting edge technology of the highest quality at a price that would not cost anyone a hardship.”
Dr. Gary Longsworth, CEO, K.H.M.H.
“This is a tremendous moment because this means now that we can get start on the real work of developing the dialysis service for the people of Belize.”
Hemodialysis will be offered at the K.H.M.H. in Belize City and La Loma Luz in Santa Elena. And while both facilities believe it’s a much needed service, Grant McPherson, the Administrator for La Loma Luz, told us the secret behind his dedication to the project.
Grant McPherson, Administrator, La Loma Luz Adventist Hospital
“Five years ago I was in total renal failure myself and for some reason my kidney started up. I don’t have complete function. So I’m a lot closer to Jose than I let on today. This is personal and this means a lot to me. That’s the reason why I put the amount of effort that I did into the many, many months of hours of work in preparing the MOU.”
It’s a huge step forward for the public health system, but for Jose Cruz, an advocate for kidney patients, it’s a dream he didn’t expect to come true.
Jose Cruz, Dialysis Patient
“This is a matter of life and death for me. You know today I should have been in a Belmopan hospital admitted, but I said I’ll take my chances. It doesn’t really matter, I needed to be here. An advocate will always find himself in some corners sometimes because of what they are asking for and what I’m asking for is the best quality care for all Belizeans. Today I’m here, tomorrow I might die but what we have accomplished here today, I would like to see go on.”
Grant McPherson
“Belize is a small country, as we all know we do not have enough financial resources within the country to do all of the things that we as a people expect government to do for us. We have to reach out to partners such as WORTH.”
WORTH will provide the equipment and the hospitals are responsible for the facilities… so where does the government come in?
Dr. Gary Longsworth
“It will be a subsidized service and the government of Belize will provide a significant subsidy for the service for the people of Belize so there’s that commitment from the government which is very laudable as well that they have taken the bull by the horn so to speak to say that this is necessary, it has to be done and it will be done.”
The dialysis program is set to start around mid September, but the K.H.M.H. and La Loma Luz are wasting no time and started the interview process today for the eight nurses and two technicians that will be hired to provide the treatment. Delahnie Bain for News Five.
