MANDEVILLE, Manchester — Nineteen health-care workers at the Mandeville Regional Hospital’s renal unit were recently recognised for their dedication to people struggling with kidney disease.

Nephrology nurse manager at Mandeville Regional Hospital Marika Davis-Miller commended her staff as she dubbed them ‘kidney heroes’ in a ceremony at the hospital’s conference room recently.

“I recognised the staff for their dedication. They have sacrificed a lot. Sometimes they are at work until 2:00 am, and whenever we call them in on the weekends, sometimes they come out twice just to save somebody’s life. The theme that is used is kidney heroes. They are true kidney heroes, saving one life, one patient at a time,” Davis-Miller told the Jamaica Observer.

Each of the 19 health-care workers was presented with plaques of appreciation.

Davis-Miller, who has continuously advocated for kidney patients, pointed to the emotional support that has to be given to them by staff.

“Some of our patients have lost their jobs because of the requirement for their dialysis. In Jamaica, what we can offer is twice weekly dialysis. Ideally, it should be three times per week. For somebody who works Mondays to Fridays, it is going to be difficult for them to get the time off from their job,” she said.

“Some of the patients who lost their jobs are the main breadwinner for their families and for that to happen it takes an impact on them,” Davis-Miller added as she urged Jamaicans to be health conscious.

“We want to implore Jamaicans to please take care of your kidneys, eat healthy, exercise, and visit the doctor,” she said.

Dr Kayris Foster, a junior resident in the hospital’s Nephrology Unit, emphasised that central Jamaica’s population has increased since the opening of the renal unit in 2011.

“We have found ourselves in a situation where the community has outgrown the size of the hospital and the capabilities to manage the many diseases that are arising within our population,” said Foster.

“We are noticing a significant increase in renal disease amongst the Jamaican population and, unfortunately, when the renal unit was started at that time renal disease was not as prominent and so we were more than capable in the years previous to manage the load, or the burden, of chronic kidney disease in the region – St Elizabeth, Manchester, and Clarendon,” Foster added.

The renal unit accommodates up to 36 patients daily to receive treatment from 12 dialysis machines. However, the waiting list is said to be even higher, resulting in many patients having to receive costly private care.

“The number of patients far outpace the resources available in the public sector, it is not uncommon to find persons of a lower socio-economic status, so our patients are simply not able to afford the treatment that is required for them,” said Foster.

“We find ourselves battling not only to provide medical care, but our staff also battles emotionally. How do you look at someone and tell them that there is something out there to provide a better quality of life, but we simply cannot offer it to you, because you simply cannot afford it?” Foster added.