On Monday June 20th, 2016, the Friends of the Hospital once again made their annual contribution to the Princess Alexandra Hospital. Ms. Audrey Brooks, President of the Friends of the Hospital, handed over the cheque of $2,000 U.S-for the Dialysis Unit-to Mrs June Rynes–Christopher, Dialysis Manager.
Speaking at the ceremony, Ms. Audrey Brooks noted that her group adopted the Dialysis Unit as its annual community project. She said: “It is our belief that the financial assistance to the Dialysis Unit represents good civic responsibility and we, ‘The friends of the Hospital’, are happy to make this positive contribution to help the growing health needs of our public”. The group held its annual ‘Coffee Morning’ in the month of March.
Chronic non-communicable diseases, including chronic kidney disease, continue to be a major problem in the Caribbean. Reports from the Caribbean Renal Registry show that diabetes, mellitus and hypertension are the leading causes of chronic kidney and end-stage renal failure. Director of Nursing Services, Mrs. Colvette Coley, noted that in Anguilla the number of persons with End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) is increasing and the age range of persons is decreasing. “We are seeing clients as young as 30 years having ESRD”, she said. She further stated: “For some years now, the Friends of the Hospital have adopted the Dialysis Unit and have been giving donations to the Unit. The donation, today, will go towards maintaining and supplying equipment in the Unit”.
Other speakers included Mr. George Brown, Chief Executive Officer, and Mrs. June Raynes-Christopher, Dialysis Manager, who both lauded the group for their continued support. Mr. Brown spoke of the challenges which the Unit currently faces. He focused particularly on the allocated space which is in dire need of repairs. He stated that the Health Authority is currently working with Ministry of Infrastructure towards a solution to the deteriorating facility.
Currently a typical hemodyalisis schedule is three sessions per week, for 3 to 5 hours per session at an average cost of $3000 per client per week, which is approximately $156,000 per year. It is understood that the cost of the dialysis treatment is heavily subsidized by the Government of Anguilla.
