Dialysis Support Programme a testimony to Govt’s commitment to people

Dear Editor,

Ifeel compelled to commend the People’s Progressive Party/Civic Government for its “… dialysis support programme…” and no wonder one patient stated (I guess in speaking for all the beneficiaries) that “I feel without this, I would have already been in my box.” Why?

Well, let us just reflect on the reality that chronic kidney disease (CKD) is fast growing worldwide, and is associated with very high financial expenditures for patients and healthcare systems, to the point that many simply cannot afford nor access appropriate care. In fact, chronic kidney disease and dialysis are not only medical problems but also economic ones. Just think about the fact that renal replacement therapy (RRT) consumes a lot of resources as the equipment and the materials are quite expensive. In addition, dialysis needs quite some input from personnel.

In this regard, I note that to date the Government has already compassionately doled out over $50M to some 84 patients. This, as we all know, is what was promised by the PPP/C before entering the present tenure of leading the country. The overall plan is to utilise the budgeted $863 million to support those in need of this critical medical treatment under its Dialysis Support Programme. Over in the States, if one does not have insurance, the cost for one haemodialysis treatment can run up to $500 or more. If a person goes three times per week, that’s at least $1500 per week, $6000 per month, and $72,000 per year. In other words, death ensues quickly.

What I like too is that the Ministry of Health is very pro-active. According to the Health Minister, who elaborated

Globally, the situational nuances of developing countries is not given the attention they warrant. Instead, hard-line positions are taken to supposedly advance the net zero agenda, while ignoring that funding the transition to net zero is one that is not fully supported by the Global North. One only has to look at the failure to meet the US$100B pledge or the recent agreement coming out of COP27 that addresses as Loss and Damage Fund, the functionality of which has still not been defined.

The reality is that the lack of resources, to fund climate change adaptation and mitigation, necessitates a balanced approach to development, like the one Guyana has adopted – a developmental approach that is grounded in a national plan that addresses the nuances of the Guyana situation by pursuing the exploitation of our nation’s resources to fund that “… through close collaboration with the private sector agencies, dialysis services have now been expanded to Regions Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), Four (Demerara-Mahaica) and 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) compared to previous years where patients requiring dialysis were forced to travel to the capital city to seek treatment.”

Editor, in closing, I do make an urgent appeal to the many who take health matters too lightly. I remind all that chronic kidney disease (CKD) is often an issue for years before damage starts to take a serious toll on the body and awareness steps in. The key then is to be alert and take preventative methods such as healthy eating, regular exercises and for sure constant checks.

Yours truly, H Singh the developmental imperatives of the country, such as world class education and health care, while also funding the transition to a net-zero economy.

Guyana’s commitment to the environment has been evidenced by the Architecture for REDD+ Transactions (ART), on December 1, 2022, issuance of the world’s first TREES credits to Guyana. And our country’s commitment to our people is evidenced by the steps being taken to address the social needs of Guyanese via the exploitation of our national resources in a responsible manner.

In the absence of global action, nationally defined plans by developing countries are increasingly becoming the more attractive model to move forward as a means of balancing the global push to net zero and the right of Guyanese to development.