MANDEVILLE, Manchester — With 180 people on the waiting list for dialysis at the Mandeville Regional Hospital’s renal unit, a medical doctor here is encouraging Jamaicans to maintain healthy lifestyles.

Dr Kayris Foster said between 2009 and 2019 there has been an increase of 18.9 per cent in the number of deaths caused by chronic kidney disease in Jamaica.

“This harrowing statistic bears the stark reality of a silent epidemic claiming the lives within a community. Chronic kidney disease has climbed the ranks, becoming the fourth-leading cause of death and disability combined. Behind these numbers [are] real people – mothers, fathers, siblings and friends – whose lives have been forever altered,” she said last Friday.

Foster, in addressing her audience at the media launch for the second annual Manchester City Run, organised by Manchester Custos Garfield Green, said the financial burden of chronic kidney disease is enormous.

“Our waiting list, which commenced in November 2020, stands at 180 people waiting to receive a space at our unit. These 180 patients, and all new patients being initiated on dialysis, require lifelong therapy and must therefore shoulder the financial burden of private dialysis,” she said.

“From them this comes at an average cost of $20,000 per session.; a session is each time the patient goes on the machine for dialysis. The majority of our patients will require at least twice weekly dialysis, making this a weekly cost of $40,000, a monthly cost of $160,000, and a yearly cost of $1,920,000. These figures for twice-weekly dialysis do not correlate with what should be received but instead with what is somewhat more affordable,” she added.

She said the international standard remains thrice-weekly dialysis, “which would place the cost at $60,000 per week, a monthly cost of $240,000 per month, and $2,880,000 per year”.

Green, who has been vital to the organisation of the 5K set for Sunday June 9, said he is looking forward to people supporting the event reaching its goal of $2 million.

“I am encouraging companies, individuals, to come on board as sponsors and as racers. You can contact my office and register online at manchesterja.com,” he said.

Dr Garbriel Ukala, consultant internist and head of the medicine department, donated $100,000 towards the fund-raiser.

Dr Foster pointed out that the renal unit serves the southern region, which includes Clarendon, Manchester and St Elizabeth.

“Behind each statistic is a story of pain, loss, and unfulfilled dreams. We cannot afford to turn a blind eye to their suffering,” she said.

“The dialysis sessions are divided into outpatient sessions during which 70 patients are provided with regular outpatient dialysis and inpatient emergency dialysis sessions during which patients of the ward in need of emergency treatment are facilitated. For April of 2024 a total of 648 patient sessions and 130 emergency sessions were conducted. These numbers, particularly the emergency sessions, have shown a significant increase in a mere 30 days as only 69 emergency sessions had to be conducted for the period of March 2024,” she said.

She pointed to the painful reality of the growing waiting list.

“Unfortunately, despite the increasing number of patients requiring emergency dialysis, and by extension new patients initiated on dialysis, our unit is currently unable to accept new patients for regular outpatient therapy,” she said.

There are 12 dialysis stations operating on two and a half shifts daily, in addition to providing emergency dialysis when needed at the hospital.