A Renal Transplant Unit will soon be set up at the Jawaharlal Nehru Hospital and dialysis services in all regional hospitals across the country will be renovated and upgraded. The announcement was made by the Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr Kailesh Kumar Singh Jagutpal, on Friday night, at a seminar organised by the Renal Association Mauritius at the Ravenala Attitude Hotel, Balaclava.
The aim of the seminar, held in the context of World Renal Day 2022, observed on 10 March, is to strive for excellence in the delivery of kidney care in Mauritius and educate the population about kidneys and kidney diseases. The President of the Renal Association Mauritius, Dr Davy Ip Min Wan and other personalities were also present.
In his address, Minister Jagutpal also stated that around 90 dialysis machines to the tune of Rs 25 million were bought last year and that by this mid-year some additional 80 dialysis machines will be made available. He recalled that the last two years have been challenging due to the COVID-19 pandemic as it caused greater threat for patients undergoing dialysis in Mauritius and around the world.
The Ministry, he added, has implemented 90% of the recommendations of the Fact Funding Committee put in place following the demise of positive COVID-19 dialysis patients and will continue to work to improve the services provided to dialysis patients. He further dwelt on some initiatives of the Government to the aid of kidney disease patients, namely, the inauguration of a Haemodialysis Unit in at the New Souillac Hospital, provision of dialysis services at the Long Mountain Hospital; and training to nurses in nephrology.
Speaking about the need to sensitise kidney disease patients and the population on the risk factors on renal diseases, the Minister lauded the excellent work and the collaboration of the health professionals of the Renal Association Mauritius who endeavour to improve the care of patients with kidney disease by promoting the highest standard of medical practice.
He made an appeal to doctors to be more pedagogical and interactive with their patients by enlightening them on the do’s and dont’s for better health care.
