FOOD FOR THE POOR INJECTS NEW LIFE INTO TREATMENT OF KIDNEY PATIENTS AT UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL OF THE WEST INDIES

Susan Moore (centre-foreground) Director, Recipient Services, Food For the Poor (FFP) has the rapt attention of Claudette Jones, Senior Director, Nursing Services, University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI) and Dr. Marsha Gooden, Paediatrician / Paediatric Nephrologist, UHWI. They were discussing the ways in which a donation of equipment and supplies by FFP would benefit children and adults who use the UHWI’s Haemodialysis Unit. The trio was at a presentation ceremony at UHWI on Friday, July 12. In the background are other participants in the presentation ceremony. Among the items provided to the Unit by FFP are resuscitators, laryngoscope blades, infant and adult digital scales, pulse oximeters, defibrillator, coagulation timers, patient chairs and computers. FFP came to the rescue of the UHWI Haemodialysis Unit, after a request from Jamaica Kidney Kids Foundation Ltd.  – a support group for children with chronic kidney problems.

Kingston, Jamaica- July 16, 2013: Food For The Poor (FFP) has boosted the limited dialysis / kidney care treatment resources of the Haemodialysis Unit of the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI), through a donation of substantial equipment and medical supplies. The presentation ceremony took place on Friday afternoon, July 12, at the UHWI.

It is the only health facility in Jamaica, which provides dialysis for children younger than 12 years of age. The FFP donation will therefore help in significantly improving the availability of key equipment used in treating children suffering from chronic kidney disease.

Among the items provided by FFP were resuscitators, laryngoscope blades, infant and adult digital scales, pulse oximeters, defibrillator, coagulation timers, patient chairs and computers. The charity came to the aid of the UHWI Haemodialysis Unit, after a request from the Jamaica Kidney Kids Foundation (JKKFL) – a support group for children with chronic kidney problems. FFP Jamaica sourced the items through its umbrella organization, FFP Inc., which is headquartered in Florida, United States of America.

Pointing out that the charity was pleased to assist the Haemodialysis Unit and consequently persons suffering from kidney disease, Ms. Moore, articulated the commitment of FFP, to help in making a major positive difference in the health sector. “It’s all part of what we do in Jamaica, by empowering Jamaicans. Definitely, the poorest of the poor will benefit.”

Dr. Marsha Gooden, Paediatrician / Paediatric Nephrologist, UHWI, asserted that the donation will enable the hospital to better serve patients – both young and old, who are suffering from renal failure. “We want to thank Food for the Poor for this donation which will help us to better care for patients. All the items will be adequately utilised.”

The JKKFL disclosed that the retail value of the FFP donated equipment exceeds

J$ 5 million. Dr. Maolynne Miller, Founder, JKKFL, expressed confidence that the FFP donation will help to advance the quality of patient care available to sufferers of kidney disease, especially treatment for children.  “This will improve the quality of care for children affected by kidney problems; and give accurate measurements for various types of renal diagnoses,” said Dr. Miller. Describing the donation as “ideal and very useful ”, Dr. Miller declared: “Many thanks to Food For The Poor.”

The Founder of JKKFL remarked that both children and adults would benefit from the donation: “It’s fantastic to share with the adult Haemodialysis Unit, because this is where the children stay at this time. Everything that was donated will be shared with the hospital.” 

Data from the JKKFL shows that each year, at least 40 children in Jamaica aged 16 years and younger are diagnosed with chronic kidney /renal disease. Of that number, three to six children will be diagnosed with chronic kidney failure. Between 1985 and 2006, 30 of the 48 children diagnosed with chronic kidney failure died. FFP is helping to ensure that the already over-burdened dialysis treatment facilities are increased, to the benefit of the children.  

Since its inception, FFP has significantly enhanced public health and patient care in Jamaica through the continued distribution of medical equipment and supplies to health care facilities across the island.  For 2012, FFP distributed health care supplies valued at J$3.1 billion to public health facilities, non-governmental organizations, infirmaries and schools in Jamaica. In February alone this year, the charity provided the Ministry of Health with 200 wheelchairs, 40 hospital beds, several operating theatre lights, stretchers and sofas; for use in its hospitals and health centres.

Representatives from FFP, the University Hospital, the Paediatric Dialysis team, MicroLabs Ltd and JKKFL participated in Friday’s presentation ceremony.

During Friday’s hand-over ceremony, there was also an official presentation of a cash donation to the Paediatric Nephrology service of the UHWI to assist with specific blood tests needed in children on dialysis. That donation was a partnership between JKKFL and MicroLabs Ltd. JKKFL donated J $50,000 to MicroLabs Ltd. towards blood tests for children on dialysis.  In turn, MicroLabs Ltd committed to reducing the cost of the blood tests by more than 50 %.

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About Food For The Poor: Food For The Poor Jamaica is the largest charity organization in the country.  Food For The Poor Inc., located in Florida, USA, was named by The Chronicle of Philanthropy as the largest international relief and development organization in the United States. It is an interdenominational Christian agency that does much more than feed the millions of hungry poor in 17 countries of the Caribbean and Latin America. FFP provides emergency relief assistance, clean water, medicines, educational materials, homes, support for orphans and the aged, skills training and micro-enterprise development assistance, with more than 95% of all donations going directly to programmes that help the poor. For more information visit our Web site at www.foodforthepoorja.com

About Jamaica Kidney Kids Foundation Limited:  Jamaica Kidney Kids Foundation Ltd. is a registered non-profit organization which provides support for institutions islandwide caring for children with chronic kidney disease through donations of equipment, the provision of training programmes and financial contributions obtained from fundraising locally and internationally. 

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Contact:

Erica James-King, PROComm, T: 926-6740 or  564-5277

Petri-Ann Henry, Food For The Poor, T:  984-5005 or 564-2886