Two atoll hospitals prepare to begin dialysis service

Dialysis machines have been installed in the atoll hospitals in B. Eydhafushi and Lh. Naifaru.

The Health Ministry is working on starting dialysis services in all the atolls hospitals across the country. While contracts have been awarded to parties to commence the service in three hospitals, the atoll hospitals in Eydhafushi and Naifaru are now ready to start services.

Responding to a question from AVAS, Lh. Naifaru Hospital Manager Jaufar Abdulla said changes had been brought to the hospital's design to begin dialysis service and that the machines had been installed.

"Two of our employees have undergone two months of special training at IGMH and one month in Laamu atoll to begin the dialysis service," he said.

Jaufar said the main reason for the delay in commencing the service was problems with the hospital's operating theatre.

Jaufar said work is underway to resolve the issues in the OT. He believes a solution will be found within the next two weeks. As work is now underway, the dialysis service is expected to officially start by the end of next month, he said.

B. Eydhafushi Hospital's Manager, Mohamed Rasheed, told AVAS that the necessary machinery and other facilities had been arranged to start the dialysis service at the hospital. Some of the medical equipment needed to start the service will be procured through STO within this week, and staff has been trained to start dialysis services, he said.

"There are about 14 families in this atoll who need this service. So this is a convenience for all the families and an improvement for the hospital," Rasheed said.

In addition to these two hospitals, the government is also working on starting dialysis services at Sh. Fonadhoo Hospital.

There are a significant number of people who seek treatment for kidney diseases in different parts of the Maldives. Dialysis centers are being set up across the country to provide services to such people. The service is already available in IGMH in Male', Hulhumale' Hospital, Kulhudhuffushi Regional Hospital, R. Ungoofaaru Regional Hospital, GDh. Thinadhoo Dr. Abdul Samad Memorial Hospital, L. Gan Regional Hospital, Gn. Fuvahmulah Hospital and Addu Equitorial Hospital.