Suva- Fiji’s health services has achieved yet another milestone following the opening of the country’s first National Kidney Centre in Nadera.

Prime Minister Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama, while officiating as Chief Guest at the opening of the centre this afternoon, said the facility will provide dialysis treatment for about 40 patients a week with 180 dialysis sessions, and those services can be scaled up to meet demand.

“Those treatments will also be directly subsidised by Government to ensure they are available for all Fijians, as must be the case for any society that calls itself compassionate,” Prime Minister Bainimarama said.

“But this is more than a treatment centre. It is the new beating heart of our holistic response to addressing the painful and deadly scourge of kidney disease in our society.

“Fijians suffer from Non- Communicable Diseases (NCDs), like diabetes, at an unacceptable rate. As any of these doctors will tell you that is one of the leading reasons why these dialysis treatments are in such high demand.

“This facility also offers treatment for chronic kidney disease, which is an issue for far too many Fijians and the families that love and care for them. These treatments are available in Fiji, but this is the first to offer specialised nephrology care. That means there is a specialist on-call at all times from the screening process, to the dialysis care, to the review of treatment plans.”

The centre will also work to create awareness on the causes of kidney disease and how Fijians can decrease the likelihood of contracting such disease.

“It will be a hub of kidney disease research that provides us with a clearer picture of how this disease is impacting Fiji and what more we can do to combat it; as researchers, as healthcare professionals and as ordinary citizens responsible for our own health and well-being,” Prime Minister Bainimarama added.

The Head of Government acknowledged the Ministry of Health and Medical Services for successfully following through with the completion of the centre.

“We had planned to have this facility up-and- running last year, but that was pre-COVID. Travel restrictions kept a team of German technicians from reaching Fiji and getting these dialysis machines up-and-running but the Ministry of Health and Medical Services moved mountains to bring a technician from Samoa to Fiji to help train our staff to assemble, calibrate and operate these kidney dialysis machines.”

Centre Director Doctor Anis Ta’eed said the operation of the centre is expected to increase depending on demand.

Today, three patients have been accommodated for dialysis treatment at the centre.

“Dialysis treatment is usually for four hours and patients will come in two to three times a week. These are patients who have advance kidney disease who require dialysis to sustain them. Apart from dialysis treatment, our focus will also be on awareness to better inform the larger population on kidney disease.”