Basseterre, St. Kitts, (November 27, 2018 ): The St. Kitts Joseph N. France General Hospital now has the capacity to treat more patients suffering from renal failure with the addition of three brand new hemodialysis machines donated by the government of the Republic of China (Taiwan).At a brief Handing-Over Ceremony held on Tuesday, November 27, Resident Ambassador of the Republic of China (Taiwan), His Excellency Tom Lee commended the Ministry of Health for its support in facilitating the project to procure the three new machines.

He said that the machines will be very crucial for the care of patients suffering with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) because without hemodialysis the patients may not survive. He also assured the public that his government will continue to be an ally in helping to improve the health of the people in the Federation.

“There are currently six hemodialysis machines at the hospital, and today on behalf of the people and government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) we are very pleased to donate three new hemodialysis machines. Please rest assured that our Embassy will continue to work hard so more people in this country can benefit from our cooperation,” he said.

Minister of State with responsibility for Health, the Honourable Wendy Phipps said that the small but significant ceremony marked a step in increasing the hospital’s capacity to take care of patients with Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases (CNCDs), with the expansion of the Hemodialysis Unit. She also thanked the Ambassador for his country’s continued support to the Ministry of Health.

“We must do everything in our power to make sure that not only are we treating NCD’s, but that we are preventing them. I would like to thank His Excellency for the gift that has been given to us from his government. It is an extension of the partnership that we have already developed over many years in terms of healthcare, but more particularly the Chronic Kidney Disease Project that would have started two years ago in the public health system,” she stated.

Minister of Health, the Honourable Eugene Hamilton also thanked the Ambassador and expressed his pleasure over the invaluable partnership that has blossomed with the government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) over the years.

“Our friends (the Taiwanese) have continued to join with us to help us to build this capacity that is satisfying the needs of the people of St. Kitts and Nevis. I am therefore pleased on behalf of the Government to join with my fellow Minister to say thank you to the government and people of Taiwan for their generous gift to this Federation,” Minister Hamilton said.

He also said that while the machines are there to treat persons suffering with the disease, the Team Unity Government is focusing on prevention at a national level.