Healthy Living: Dialysis Plea
Since the start of April, Belizeans have been asked to stay home to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus. This restriction on movement was tightened on Sunday when the nation was placed under lockdown and new measures come into effect at midnight. The regulations included a shut-down of public transportation. But, some Belizeans must move outside their districts to access healthcare that keeps them alive. Now, they are struggling to find a way and means to access their live-saving medical care. We find out more in tonight’s Healthy Living.
Marleni Cuellar
Marleni Cuellar
“This is what the main bus terminal in Belize City looks like 6 days into the lockdown. A ghost town because public transportation across the country has ceased as a way to keep Belizeans at home and reduce the spread of COVID-19. But some people relied on this transportation to be able to get the treatment that keeps them alive, and now with no way of moving around the country, they are desperate for help.”
Nurse Maria Ack, Manager, Dialysis del Caribe
“It is a hard decision to make right now. It breaks my heart…(sorry)”
An emotional plea from nurse and manager who’s been desperately trying to raise funds to help her dialysis patients.
Maria Ack
Nurse Maria Ack
“It has imposed a lot of problems, most of them use the bus because most of them use the bus and now they can’t come because of a lack of transportation.”
There are only five treatment centers for dialysis patients across the country: one at the Loma Luz Hospital in Cayo, in Belize City at the K.H.M.H., Belize Healthcare Partners, and here at Dialysis del Caribe and another in Orange Walk. So many patients have to move across the country to access their life-saving care. From the start of the month, Nurse Ack saw the challenges that restricted movement was having and started fundraising on Facebook.
Nurse Maria Ack
“Some has helped us with those from the south from PG, from Hopkins, from Independence and Seine Bight. We have people from Belmopan and from Cayo and also two from Corozal who need to travel to the city.”
Those funds will only last for two weeks. But even city buses aren’t running and have created a void for patients like Glenn Tillett.
Glenn Tillett
Glenn Tillett, Dialysis Patient
“I use to. There is no public transportation right now. I have to depend on the generosity of my friends and family who have vehicles and my friends who have taxis since they can still operate. I listened to the attorney general yesterday nowhere did I hear any consideration for those of us who are not mobile in that way but must come out of our homes — the safety of our homes — to get the life-saving treatment we need.”
Nurse Maria Ack
“That’s the sad part. These people are already struggling with dialysis. Some of them, we have thirty-five that are on the government program which is a good thing, but then we have about twenty-six more patients that are not on the government program, so they have to pay out of pocket, and because of that they were struggling to pay when they had a job or somebody assisting when they had a job but now that people are out of job nobody is assisting them, so it is a hard blow to them.”
Glenn Tillett
“I have been asking. I have been quietly asking. I’m not trying to make a public spectacle of it. It ensures that these people get the help they need. Appealing to the hotel association or tourism or somebody, so maybe these people can stay here so they can have access to their centers.”
Dialysis is a treatment for patients with kidney failure. They’re attached to this machine three times a week for their blood to be cleaned since their body no longer does this process. For some patients, Government covers two treatments a week and they must pay for the third. And, right now, that program is full. The rest must cover their own costs in full. So, in addition to transportation issues, the heavy financial burden has begun taking its toll. Now, many are cutting back on their weekly treatments.
Marleni Cuellar
“What is going to happen?”
Nurse Maria Ack
“We are going to have more complications because the toxins will go up, and even though we are trying to maintain their diet, maintaining their fluid intake but I’m looking at that in the future w’’re gonna have complications. More complications.”
Glenn Tillett
“I have written to the committee to the commission, I have written to Doctor Manzanero as head of the task force. Many of the people on dialysis who are getting the partial subsidy from the government also have to pay for sessions on their own, and it is expensive. And if you are retired or made infirmed by whatever ailments you have as well as renal failure coming up with two hundred dollars a week is a big ask.”
Nurse Maria Ack
“I‘ve been here there everywhere trying to ask for donations beg for them even if just half of the session because really and truly the center has to function. We have to pay our staff we have to pay for our supplies, but at the end of the day, it is a life too.”
A life that is already at high risk for the most severe complications of COVID-19. The new stringent measures at the clinic couldn’t even get us beyond this door as they try to shield their vulnerable patients from any outside threats. Tillett stresses that health officials need to act promptly.
Glenn Tillett
“We are the people who are most likely going to clog up the ICU. So give us the help, do so in advance to prevent us from being the ones who will be clogging up the ICU and requiring respirators and ventilators and the other machines and technology to save lives.”
Meanwhile, Nurse Ack hinges her hopes on the generosity of the public.
Nurse Maria Ack
“I don’t treat them; I don’t just give them dialysis. I care for them. They’re like family to me. It‘s hard. Everyone out there doesn’t have it as well. It is a difficult situation. I am hoping if we can get people to donate at least give these patients once a week. We would have to try, especially during this crisis, because they really don’t have. If there are people out there who can find it in their heart to help. It is really appreciated.”
For those who can help, you can contact Nurse Ack at 671-0996 or 280-0040 or email office@dialisisdelcaribe.com You can also contact the Kidney Association of Belize if you would like to assist.
