Before 2003, you never heard much in the news about dialysis or renal failure. But in 2003 what was then called Universal Health Services introduced the first dialysis center in Belize, and since then the cases have just been coming out of the woodwork. So much so that the ongoing care and treatment of the very many cases often become a crisis because the treatment is so expensive and government can only afford to pay for 25 patients at a time. But now that should change as two publicly managed dialysis centers are being built with assistance from the World Organization of Renal Therapies - WORTH. The agreement for that was signed today at the Lion's Den in Belize City.
The first center will be at La Loma Luz hospital in Cayo and the hospital's administrator Grant Macpherson today said his inspiration has been tireless champion of those with renal failure, Jose Cruz:...
Grant McPherson, La Loma Luz Hospital
"Mr. Jose Cruz, renal failure advocate and my hero 2010."
Jose Cruz, Kidney Association
"This is a matter of life and death for me you know today I should have been in a Belmopan hospital admitted but I say I'll take my chances, it doesn't really matter, I needed to be here"
Jules Vasquez, Reporting
This morning with the entire medical establishment watching Jose Cruz took center stage. He's the one who started the push for this project over a year ago and today it finally came to fruition.
Jose Cruz
"Even I, I think you're seeing my face but you don't feel the feeling I am having inside today - this for me has been a dream that I think would have never been accomplishable, never been but I never give up because this is step one."
Step one on a journey that proved difficult to even get started.
Dr. Francis Longsworth, CEO - KHMH
"The WORTH team I know also had their frustration in dealing with the cross cultural differences and the Belizean approach to problem solving which is very much like the Jamaican approach which says 'no problem man.' Nevertheless we got down to business."
That business was dozens of weekly Wednesday's meetings by a dialysis task force team culminating in the creation of a memorandum of understanding:
Dr. Francis Longsworth
"The MOU itself required a marathon effort with many hours spent at the Attorney General's office and when it seemed stalled by irreconcilable differences, an emergency visit by the Worth team earlier this year was made. That visit marks a turning point as a greater understanding among the parties resulted and the MOU was finalized."
And it was signed off on today:
Hon. Pablo Marin, Minister of Health
"And yesterday I heard a good comment, 'This is not an instant coffee,' but it's a lot of work being done and sometimes the back and forth sometimes takes a little bit long but with this is a relief and then it's a milestone that we have done."
And in this case the ceremony and the paperwork is lagging behind the actual work which is already underway at La Loma Luz hospital in Cayo:
Grant McPherson, La Loma Luz Hospital
"Two weeks ago we started the remodeling process and what will become the new dialysis center at La Loma Luz. It is separate from the actual hospital but it's on the property. We are doing that. Literally, we blew the roof off of a building and we are starting construction on a new center for this program. We are on a very tight schedule. We have to done and ready to turn this over to the Ministry of Health on the 15th of July 2010."
That will come on stream before the KHMH unit which is at the very initial stage of identifying the space and as many as 12 technical and nursing personnel who will be dedicated to the unit. Eight units are initially being provided by WORTH and are presently being shipped to Belize:
Dr. Wayne Trebbin, WORTH
"World Organization of Renal Therapies is dedicated to putting dialysis units in areas that need dialysis units. Where people perhaps cant afford the services. Our goal is to place these dialysis units in such locations and to allow the dialysis to be accessible to everybody regardless of position, regardless of financial wellbeing, or lack of wellbeing. Our goal is to build units, create sustainability and then remain available to hand over to local authority. That's what we are going to do in Belize too. Our commitment is to help establish the dialysis unit to help establish the quality of it, and bow out but not to disappear."
That put a rare smile on the face of Jose Cruz the dialysis patient who has fought tirelessly for this programme.
Jose Cruz
"Today I am here tomorrow I might die but what we have seen accomplished today I would like to see go on."
And while there is the promise of affordable available care for those with renal failure, there's no happy ending for the Belize Healthcare Partners which loses its dialysis subvention:
Jules Vasquez
"The government spends 1.3 - 1.7 million annually at Belize Healtcare Partners. The plan is that, that money, those funds will now be re-positioned, re-allocated to the KHMH and La Loma Luz."
Hon. Pablo Marin
"Yes, that's right. The same amount of finance will be put in both facilities."
Jules Vasquez
"The creation of this programme more or less puts Belize Healthcare Partners out of play."
Dr. Francis Longsworth
"I don't see that at all, it's really up to them what they decide to do. There is still going to be a market for private services and they can develop that market in any way that they see fit."
As noted in the story, WORTH is providing 8 units initially along with the know how to assemble and maintain it. After that it will be passed over to professional staff which will be shared between Loma Luz and the KHMH.
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