MAURITIUS – Mauritius has launched a new Hemodialysis Unit at the New Souillac Hospital to further decentralize quality treatment of patients suffering from kidney disease.
The state-of-the-art facility comprises of 22 hemodialysis machines with the capacity to accommodate around 150 patients.
The Health Minister Hon. Kailash Kumar Jagutpal opened the Hemodialysis Unit on 10th March 2022 in the presence of the World Health Organization (WHO) Representative Dr Laurent Musango and other personalities to mark World Kidney Day in Mauritius.
During the launching ceremony, Hon. Jagutpal emphasized on the importance of sensitizing the population on kidney diseases and promoting a healthy lifestyle in efforts to eradicate kidney disease.
In addition, Mauritius has diverse projects on the way aiming at improving renal health in the country such as the opening of a Renal Transplant Unit and a new Haemodialysis Unit which will be equipped with 50 machines at Jawaharlal Nehru Hospital in Rose Belle.
The government intends to provide an additional funding of Rs 15.5 million (US$350,000) for the extension of the Haemodialysis Unit at Candos Hospital as well as equipping the New Haemodialysis Unit at Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Hospital where 50 machines will be installed.
“The new Flacq Hospital in the country which is under construction will be equipped with 50 dialysis machines, the Bel Air Mediclinic will be refurbished with 10 machines while the dialysis machines that date more than 10 years will be continuously replaced,” the health ministry revealed.
Moreover, a course in nephrology is being offered to nurses by the Mauritius Institute of Health for further kidney care capacity building across the country.
The health ministry is also incorporating highly effective, integrated and holistic symptom management for all patients with kidney disease to enable them and their care partners to live a better health-related quality of life.
“About 1,500 patients in Mauritius are undergoing dialysis treatment at the New Souillac Hospital, in the five Regional Hospitals, the Long Mountain Hospital and Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Rodrigues,” disclosed the health minister.
The Ministry of Health and Wellness has also collaborated with private clinics to accommodate more kidney disease patients with the increasing number of patients requiring dialysis treatment.
Hon. Kailash revealed that the Government had disbursed Rs 150 million (US$3m) to enable 250 patients to undergo dialysis treatment in private clinics while urging the population to take advantage of the numerous sports facilities put at their disposal across the country.
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