In a momentous stride in the direction of reshaping healthcare in Saint Kitts and Nevis, Prime Minister and Minister of Well being, Hon. Dr. Terrance Drew, unveiled the Kidney (Renal) Transplant Program on November twenty fourth, 2023.
The historic launch unfolded throughout a particular version of “Well being Sensible” on ZIZ Radio and Tv, hosted by the achieved Dr. Joylette Woodley-Fassale. Dr. Woodley-Fassale, a Normal Surgeon on the Joseph N. France (JNF) Normal Hospital, serves as President of the St. Kitts Nevis Medical and Dental Affiliation and heads the Emergency Medical Companies (EMS) at JNF.
A dedication to accessible healthcare
Throughout his opening handle, Hon. Dr. Terrance Drew underscored the federal government’s unwavering dedication to making sure accessible healthcare for all residents.
He acknowledged the mounting prevalence of renal illness, intently linked to continual situations akin to hypertension, diabetes, and weight problems.
Dr. Drew made a compelling case for renal transplants, citing their cost-effectiveness and the prospect of an enhanced high quality of life in comparison with current dialysis therapies.
A pivotal initiative takes root
Hon. Dr. Terrance Drew’s imaginative and prescient for the Kidney Transplant Program resonated with the healthcare panorama’s pressing wants.
“What we’re actually doing right here is to launch a program that may profit the individuals of Saint Kitts and Nevis regardless of the place they stay or their stead in life, so long as they want the sort of medical care we need to make it accessible,” he mentioned.
He attributed the surge in renal illness partly to continual illnesses like hypertension, diabetes, and weight problems. He emphasised this system’s potential to alleviate monetary burdens and elevate the general high quality of life for the residents of Saint Kitts and Nevis.
A collaborative leap ahead
The inception of this groundbreaking initiative traces again to a pivotal assembly between Dr. Drew and Professor Nadey Hakim, a distinguished transplant and bariatric surgeon.
Dr. Hakim, a Professor at Imperial School London and a surgeon at Cleveland Clinic London, lent his formidable experience to the institution of the Kidney Transplant Program.
With over 200 reviewed papers and quite a few textbooks reflecting his experience, Dr. Hakim’s contribution augments this system with invaluable information.
Dr. Jenson Morton, Director of Well being Establishments at JNF, expressed pleasure over this system’s potential to carry hope to end-stage renal illness sufferers. He emphasised the importance of increasing therapy choices.
A beacon of hope for end-stage renal illness sufferers
Dr. Morton remarked, “If it’s one factor that everybody agrees with is that something that may give extra hope and extra choices to the individuals that suffer from end-stage renal illness is one thing that the employees goes to be all for. Something to both enhance the dialysis choices or on this case, something to provide them one other therapy modality.”
Dr. Dunia Diegguez Velqzgue, a Nephrologist at JNF, make clear the transformative affect of kidney transplants.
With 40 sufferers on hemodialysis at JNF, she emphasised the life-changing advantages a kidney transplant affords, together with improved well being, decreased issues, and the complete restoration of kidney features.
A message of prevention and progress
The Minister of Well being conveyed a twin message to the general public: advocating prevention by wholesome way of life practices and early administration of continual illnesses to stop the development to end-stage renal illness.
He affirmed, “This initiative is a big development in our healthcare system, making certain extremely specialised care is on the market right here in Saint Kitts and Nevis.”
