By Staff Writer
Faleata No. 1 MP Salausa Dr. John Ah Ching jumped to his feet when the count of more than 160 dialysis patients came up in Parliament session today.
His urgent reaction is for the numbers to be kept down rather than allow to grow.
“We must focus on less people requiring the service rather than more,” MP Salausa urged with health advise against high blood pressure and diabetes.
These are the known causes of kidney failure and the need for dialysis care.
“The emphasis is to keep the number of people in need of dialysis down rather than up.”
Palauli No. 2 MP Faumuina Liuga drew the attention to the National Kidney Foundation as a major health undertaking that has served Samoa well since it was set up in 2005.
The dialysis treatment started with only 6 local patients but soon revealed a drastic need with an average of 15 new patients per year.
“Where would this more than a 160 dialysis patients go if we did not have a service in place,” MP Faumuina underlined in praise of setting up the National Kidney Foundation.
The Prime Minister Tuilaepa reflected on the difficult challenge to set up the health service against strong protest from critics that included doctors.
“Critics warned that the service will run into the millions of tala and Samoa would not be able to afford it,” PM Tuilaepa added to the points raised by MP Faumuina.
Dialysis patients were forced to seek treatment in New Zealand before the health service was available locally.
Costs ran into millions on tala and there is no return for the patient who has to undergo daily dialysis treatment.
Tuilaepa reminded that since the NK Foundation made it possible for local treatment, it meant huge savings for Government and also loved ones staying home.
“Right now in American Samoa the Federal Government is spending USD$48m a year for dialysis treatment.”
The PM fully supported the alert call by MP Salausa by admitting to a long waiting list of possible dialysis patients.
He also called for people to watch their health by watching their rich diet and to exercise regularly.
The National Kidney Foundation followed up its dialysis services in Apia with a similar operation in Savaii for patients with renal failure.
MP Faumuina paid tribute to the late Minister of Health, Mulitalo Siafausa, who made it possible for Samoa to set up its own dialysis health service.