Just as is the case with education, most Jamaicans do not need political debates to tell them that whichever party wins the September 3 General Election its Administration will have to put shoulders to the wheel for improved health care across the country.

The lived experience at health facilities, including hospitals and health centres, represents a clear message that much needs to be done. The harsh truth is that the poorest Jamaicans, especially, are not always best served by the public health system.

For that reason, there should be considerable anticipation of better times to come following announcement by the State-run Culture, Health, Arts, Sports and Education (CHASE) Fund of plans to address the growing problem of kidney disease.

The State-run Jamaica Information Service tells us that the fund is committed to “revolutionising public health care in Jamaica with strategic investments in specialised medical services and infrastructure”.

Among the proposed initiatives is a state-of-the-art Nephrology Centre of Excellence (for treatment of kidney disease) at St Ann’s Bay Regional Hospital, targeting patients across the North East Regional Health Authority, which includes St Ann, Portland, and St Mary.

The plan is for that facility to be the first in a national network of specialised kidney care centres — one in each of Jamaica’s four regional health authorities.

CHASE is starting with the north-east region because of data suggesting it is the area of greatest need.

“Chronic kidney disease is rising, and with an ageing population, the burden is only growing,” Mr Wilford “Billy” Heaven, CHASE Fund CEO, is reported as saying.

As we have repeatedly said in this space, kidney disease/renal failure is among the more challenging difficulties for Jamaica’s health system.

It is often the last stage for people suffering chronic, common lifestyle-related illnesses such as diabetes and hypertension.

When kidneys — two bean-shaped organs either side of the spine — fail, the human body is unable to naturally rid itself of liquid waste.

In such situations, life-saving dialysis, involving experts using expensive equipment, is the usual solution. However, dialysis waiting lists in Jamaica’s State-run facilities are very long.

And, while ideally dialysis — which is stressful for patients — should be done thrice weekly, it often only happens twice per week. For those having dialysis done privately, the bill runs to tens of thousands of dollars weekly.

As we all know, prevention is always better than cure. And as Health and Wellness Minister Dr Christopher Tufton keeps reminding us, incidence of lifestyle illnesses which can eventually lead to kidney failure can be significantly reduced with a regime of physical fitness and proper diet. Avoidance of cigarette smoking and alcohol are also recommended.

Unfortunately, a proactive approach to eating properly and staying physically fit is not on the agenda for many Jamaicans.

Sadly, too, facilities to encourage physical activity such as public parks and playing fields are often not adequate, or even available, to nurture a culture of healthy recreation and sport.

It seems to us that even as our post September 3 Government looks to treat illnesses such as kidney disease, so too it should be actively and sustainably encouraging healthy habits to keep such challenges at a minimum.