Foundation looks at building dialysis centres in regions for kidney patients

THE PNG Kidney Foundation (PNGKF) is looking at building kidney dialysis centres in every region in the country to provide easier access to haemodialysis services for people affected by chronic kidney diseases, foundation chairman Sir Martin Poh says.
Sir Martin, a Malaysian businessman and chairman and owner of Borneo Pacific Pharmaceutical Ltd, told those who attended the 10th anniversary foundation dinner which raised K2.86million in Port Moresby on Saturday: “Why I choose to help people with kidney problems apart from the other issues is that there is lack of kidney dialysis and treatment facilities in the country.
“The treatment is only available overseas and is very expensive for our people to afford.
“As a result, many people have died from kidney disease and with the support of likeminded Papua New Guineans, we started the PNG Kidney Foundation in 2009,” Sir Martin said.
He said since then, through kind donations and support from the business community and the national Health Department, the foundation was able to establish the first kidney dialysis treatment facility at the Port Moresby General Hospital in 2014.
“We started with two kidney dialysis machines and had been treating a maximum of eight patients a day and the number of patients waiting in line to be treated increased to more than 100.
“There was a great need to increase the service and with support from the business community through fundraising activities and the the government through the national Health Department, we were able to obtain a land space at 7-Mile Kennedy Estate in Port Moresby and established a kidney haemodialysis treatment facility for the first time in March 2018.
“This was indeed a milestone achievement for PNG in the health sector.”
Sir Martin said the dialysis centre now had 12 dialysis machines and has treated more than 5,500 patients.
“Looking back 10 years, it was a great journey and that was made possible through support from our sponsors and the business community as well as the government,” he said.
“Our plan now going into the future is to establish kidney treatment facilities in the four regions so the service is accessible and affordable for our simple people.”
Sir Martin said for the Southern, they had one in Port Moresby and will soon have one in the Highlands and Mamose and Niugini Islands next year.
Patron of the foundation and Governor-General Sir Bob Dadae praised Sir Martin and the foundation team.
Health and HIV/AIDS Minister Elias Kapavore, National Planning Minister Richard Maru and Minister for Bougainville Affairs Sir Puka Team attended the dinner.